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1. Annual Testing in Bovine TB Area Finds Infected Herd [MI]
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development Press Release
July 23, 2015
Lansing - Routine bovine tuberculosis (TB) surveillance testing conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently confirmed a small beef herd as bovine TB positive in Alcona County. This is the 62nd cattle herd found in Michigan with bovine TB since 1998 and the second in 2015.
An informational meeting for beef and dairy cattle producers in Alcona County is scheduled for:
August 6, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Barton City VFW Post 8135, 2118 W. Trask Lake Road, Barton City, Mich. 48705.
Bovine TB is an infectious bacterial disease that primarily affects cattle; however it can be transmitted between wildlife populations and other mammals, including humans. This herd is located in a small area of Michigan where TB is endemic in wild deer. Any contact either directly or indirectly with the wild deer can spread TB to a herd.
"Finding TB is always hard on the impacted farm and this case illustrates that any size herd can be infected, which is why MDARD works with producers of all sizes to mitigate their risk to help prevent the transmission of the disease into their herds from wild deer," said Dr. Rick Smith, Assistant State Veterinarian.
Annual surveillance testing is designed to catch the disease in the very earliest stages. In order to prevent it from spreading to other farms, each herd must undergo annual testing and any additional movement off a farm must include a TB test within 30 days before movement. All cattle in Michigan must also have electronic identification eartags before they may move from the farm. Electronic identification allows MDARD to trace cattle and control the spread of disease in the event of an investigation.
Source:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248-360156--,00.html
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2. Horse At CFD Tests Positive For Virus [VSV - WY]
KGWN.TV
July 23, 2015
CHEYENNE, WY - One confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV), a reportable animal disease, has been found in Wyoming. National Veterinary Services Laboratory reported the disease to the Wyoming state veterinarian after testing samples that were submitted on Tuesday. The samples came from a horse with oral lesions suggestive of VSV. Other potentially affected animals in Goshen County are being investigated by Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) and USDA APHIS veterinarians.
The affected horse was at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) for five days as a contract act horse before lesions were found. This horse was not stalled with or near any contestant horses. Upon finding suspicious lesions, the horse was quarantined and sent back to its Wyoming origin to be held in isolation away from all other livestock. No other symptomatic or clinical animals have been identified or reported. CFD staff, Wyoming Livestock Board staff and USDA APHIS staff are coordinating disease control efforts and conducting daily monitoring of all livestock at CFD Park. That will continue through the end of the event. All livestock determined to be at the greatest risk will be examined by a veterinarian prior to exit, and, if asymptomatic, will be issued a permit to leave the CFD Park.
The main symptoms of VSV are slobbering, blisters, sores and sloughing of skin in the mouth, on the tongue, on the muzzle, inside the ears and on the coronary band above the hooves. Lameness and weight loss may also occur. VSV-infected horses and/or cattle have been found already in 2015 in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. VSV can threaten other livestock species, including sheep, goats and pigs.
Flies and midges are the main vectors for VSV. The virus is also spread through direct contact with infected livestock and indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and tack. Fly control is the most important step in preventing the disease. Good sanitation and bio-security measures can help avoid exposure.
Wyoming's most recent previous outbreaks of VSV were in 2005 and 2006. Nearly all of the affected equine during those years were pastured along drainages or had very recent history of exposure to low-lying, riparian areas. We advise livestock owners, if possible, to move their healthy animals to higher, dryer ground until the VSV insect vector season subsides. That is generally after two hard frosts.
Full text:
http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/Horse-At-CFD-Tests-Positive-For-Virus-318326221.html
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3. Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Update - Positive Diagnosis in Six Colorado Counties
Colorado Dept. of Agriculture News Release
July 23, 2015
BROOMFIELD, Colo. - As of 7/22/2015, the Colorado Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's Office has 29 locations in six counties under quarantine after horses, mules, and a cattle herd and other horse facilities in Larimer County tested positive for Vesicular Stomatitis (VS).
Colorado County Total Current Premises Released Quarantines
Delta County 9 3
La Plata County 4
Larimer County 5
Las Animas County 1
Montezuma County 5
Montrose County 5 1
Livestock owners who suspect an animal may have VS or any other vesicular disease should immediately contact their local veterinarian. Livestock with clinical signs of VS are isolated until they are determined to be of no further threat for disease spread. There are no USDA approved vaccines for VS. While rare, human cases of VS can occur, usually among those who handle infected animals. VS in humans can cause flu-like symptoms and only rarely includes lesions or blisters.
As VS reappears in Colorado, concerned horse-owners want to know what they can do to protect their horses. The State Veterinarian's office receives many calls requesting the location of horses and premises affected by VS. Colorado has a state statute called the "Confidentiality of Livestock Information" which protects livestock producers' operational information and animal disease information; this includes horse and location information (C.R.S. 35-57.9-103). For more information, visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/aganimals/vesicular-stomatitis-virus-vsv.
"While we cannot disclose the exact location of the infected livestock, it is not very contagious from animal to animal. The primary method of spread is through insect vectors, primarily biting flies. The key to remember is to take steps to reduce the fly populations near livestock," said State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/oncpt97
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4. USDA Planning For Hundreds of Bird Flu Outbreaks In Fall
By Peggy Lowe
KCUR.org
July 22, 2015
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that the federal government is preparing for 500 simultaneous outbreaks of bird flu this fall with more people on the ground and landfills lined up in advance.
During testimony before an oversight hearing on USDA programs, Vilsack said 3,200 employees have been added to the 8,000 who already work for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The service is a sub-agency under the USDA. A command structure will be put in place along with incident teams, he said.
"We are planning for a circumstance where we are simultaneously having to deal with 500 outbreaks," Vilsack said. "We think that's sort of a worst-case scenario situation, so were planning for that."
Vilsack came under fire for the USDA's response this spring, when the worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu hit Midwestern states, mostly turkeys in Minnesota and laying hens in Iowa. The USDA has promised Congress to better the situation, Reuters reported.
Full text:
http://kcur.org/post/usda-planning-hundreds-bird-flu-outbreaks-fall
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5. State Officials Preparing For Possible Bird Flu Epidemic [TN - edited]
By Jenny White
News Channel Five
July 22, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Veterinarians and testing labs in Tennessee are preparing for an epidemic.
The bird flu strain that wiped out flocks in the Midwest over the last six months may be heading to the Volunteer State.
The State Department of Agriculture is preparing as if an outbreak is imminent, because if it makes it to Tennessee, staff want to be ready.
"This is the biggest animal health disaster outbreak in U.S. History," said State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Hatcher.
Poultry is a billion dollar industry in Tennessee, but for Poultry Hollow Hatchery owner Judy Wood it's not just about the money.
Wood raises more than 35 breeds of chickens along with dozens of pheasants, turkeys and other birds and sells them to farms and individuals.
She's very strict about their care and does not ever take a bird off property with plans to return, even to shows or fairs.
"You never know what you're gonna bring home. We just don't take our chickens anywhere," she said.
She's apprehensive because she knows staff with the state lab at the Dept. of Agriculture are bracing for the fall when it's likely infected birds will migrate south and land in Tennessee.
"Our laboratory capacity would have to increase four or five fold to handle an outbreak," Dr. Hatcher said.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/owkx2zy
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6. Bird flu quarantine lifted in hard-hit Kandiyohi County
Mark Steil, Worthington, Minn.
MPRNews.org
July 23, 2015
The Minnesota county hardest hit by avian influenza has been released from quarantine.
Kandiyohi, the state's largest turkey producing county, has been under quarantine since last spring. The deadly virus struck more than three dozen farms there during April, May and June.
Lifting the quarantine means county farmers with flocks unaffected by the virus will be able to move poultry on and off their land without restrictions, officials said Thursday.
Full text:
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/23/bird-flu-quarantine-lifted-in-kandiyohi-county
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7. TAHC Passes Rules at June Commission Meeting [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
July 22, 2015
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) held a regularly scheduled Commission meeting on June 9, 2015, at its headquarters in Austin.
The following rules were adopted during the meeting and were effective on June 30.
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements, Equine Health Certificates
The new rule changes the validity of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) for equine entering the state from 45 to 30 days. The rule will coincide with the existing USDA interstate rules, and will better protect against a number of emerging viral diseases with shorter incubation periods currently posing threats to Texas.
Chapter 55: Feral Swine, Holding Facility Requirements
The amendment changes the fencing requirement for feral swine holding facilities from double fencing - to one good fence that prevents ingress/egress.
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
These rules codify the standards for non-veterinarians participating in the TAHC cervid CWD status program that want to collect samples for the required surveillance. This is a result of statutory authority granted to the agency in the last Legislative session (2013), and is part of the new TAHC Authorized Personnel chapter.
To view the details of all the rules passed visit http://www.tahc.texas.gov/regs/code.html
The following rules were proposed:
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis, Testing Exposed/Infected Breeding Bulls
The first rule will lower the instate change of ownership virgin age for breeding bulls from 24 to 18 months. Texas bulls up to 30 months of age may still be sold as virgins if a veterinarian will co-sign the virgin certificate. A separate proposed rule will require testing of any neighboring bulls who are, or have been in fence line contact within the last 30 days with a Trichomoniasis (Trich) infected herd.
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks, ID requirements in Quarantined Areas
This will require commission approved ID be applied on cattle in all fever tick zones, not just the permanent quarantine zone along the Texas-Mexico border in South Texas.
Chapter 51: Entry Requirements, Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) & Trichomoniasis
This rule will change the validity of health certificates on animals entering from states currently affected with VS from 30 to 14 days. A separate entry rule related to Trichomoniasis will change the maximum age for entry as a "virgin" bull from 12 to 18 months of age. "Virgin" status bulls are not required to have a Trich test prior to entry.
Full text:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2015/2015-07-22_CommissionMeetingRelease.pdf
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