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1. Illinois Animal Health Officials Lift Out of State Poultry Restrictions
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Press Release
September 15, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) animal health officials announced today that out-of-state birds can return to the state to participate in shows, fairs and exhibitions.
A ban was placed on out of state birds' participation in fairs and exhibitions on June 5, 2015, as a precautionary measure due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as avian influenza, which impacted several states. No cases of avian influenza have been reported nationwide since June 17, 2015. Avian influenza was not detected in Illinois during the outbreak.
"The Department will continue to work closely with USDA Veterinary Services as well as other state departments of agriculture to monitor the disease," said Director of Agriculture Philip Nelson. "Our mission is to continue to educate both commercial and backyard producers about the importance of following strict biosecurity measures daily."
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2. Nebraska braces for possible return of bird flu [edited]
By Nicholas Bergin
Lincoln Journal Star
September 15, 2015
State officials are bracing for a possible return of the highly pathogenic avian influenza this fall and urging poultry and egg producers to be vigilant.
Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said last week he hopes the H5N2 and any other strains of the virus will skip Nebraska as migrating birds fly south for the winter, but he's not willing to leave it up to chance.
"We're going to be prepared for outbreaks and we're going to hope that producers have taken steps to reduce their risk," he said.
"There were a lot of lessons learned this spring in the industry about measures they could take to reduce their risk and not spread it between producers or between barns within their own production," Ibach said.
If there is an outbreak this fall, he said, it likely will not be as severe simply because the state's largest operations were depopulated in the spring.
He urged poultry producers to consider who has access to their facilities and where they have been, as the virus can hitch a ride on boots and tires.
"Make sure you're doing all you can to segregate employees and equipment so that you're not moving them between buildings and increasing the risk of spreading it if you do have an occurrence in one of your facilities," Ibach said. "And do be mindful of contact with migrating wildlife."
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3. Colorado Reports 11 Cases of Equine West Nile Virus
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
September 15, 2015
Eleven equine cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been diagnosed in nine Colorado counties as of
Sept. 14.
The WNV-positive horses are from Alamosa, Boulder, Broomfield, Conejos, Fremont, Jefferson, Larimer, Park, and Weld counties.
The incidence of WNV disease varies from year to year and depends on a number of factors, including the amount of mosquitos. West Nile virus can be carried by infected birds and then spread locally by mosquitoes that bite those birds. The mosquitoes can then pass the virus to humans and other animals, like horses. Horses are a "dead-end host" meaning they pose no threat to public health but they can be severely affected by physical symptoms.
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4. VS update: Vesicular stomatitis confirmed in Nebraska, seven other states
By John Maday, Editor
Bovine Veterinarian
September 15, 2015
On September 10, 2015, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames Iowa confirmed a finding of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in three horses from a premises in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. This is the first VSV finding in Nebraska this year.
Since the beginning of this summer's outbreak, 420 VSV-affected premises have been identified and quarantined in eight states (Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming). Currently, according to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), there are 103 affected premises remaining under quarantine in 6 states (Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming).
Last summer, a total of 435 VS-positive premises were confirmed in four U.S. states including Arizona Colorado, Nebraska and Texas.
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5. Fitzgibbons Named Executive Director of WLIC
Wisconsin Ag Connection
September 15, 2015
The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium has a new leader at its helm. The group's board of directors has hired Patrick Fitzgibbons as executive director, where he will lead WLIC in the strategic planning and management of Wisconsin's premise ID registrations and animal tracking programs.
Fitzgibbons most recently served as the Cattle Procurement Manager at Cargill in Milwaukee, orchestrating the multi-site procurement of cattle from producers and brings extensive experience in strategic planning and business analysis. He formerly served as vice-chairman on the WLIC board.
In his new capacity, Patrick will be responsible for developing innovative initiatives and cultivating relationships with industry stakeholders and producers to promote the value and importance of identification and traceability. He will also oversee the responsibilities of WLIC management and work closely with DATCP and state veterinarians to ensure a quick response to disease outbreaks.
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6. Dr. Richard French Assumes New Role in a Move to China
September 15, 2015
[Congratulations to Dr. French who is a member of USAHA and AAVLD].
Dr. Richard French '87 DVM, '90 MS, 96 PhD will be moving to China to serve as Director of Veterinary Diagnostic Services for China under for Charoen Pokphand Group. His mission encompasses the creation of an animal health network system. The future success and profitability of China's animal production is highly dependent on maintenance of animal health and disease control. Most of the known serious and economically damaging animal diseases are endemic and common in China and continue to cause significant economic loss from disruption of production.
Dr. French is taking on the challenge of a lifetime yet with an outlook of supporting the agricultural industry, which produces 50% of the world's pork and poultry and feeds a quarter of the world's population. He will be engaging the lead professionals in China and the world.
Dr. French started his career at the University of Connecticut, receiving tenure with a successful research, teaching and diagnostic service appointment. He then carried the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory through the economic downturn of 2008 to 2013, setting the laboratory on a new track to success. He will be leaving his present position as Dean of the School of Animal Studies and Allerton Chair of Animal Health Sciences at Becker College.
Dr. French will work to continue to serve the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD) Training Program at Plum Island and bring a new dimension to the course and build international relations that best serve all in the food animal industries and diagnostic services.
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7. Privacy Act Systems of Records; Animal Disease Traceability Information System
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)
Notices
Pages 55588-55590
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23255]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0057
Privacy Act Systems of Records; Animal Disease Traceability Information System
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of a proposed new system of records.
SUMMARY: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The system of records is the Animal Disease Traceability Information System, USDA-APHIS-16. This notice is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of record systems maintained by the agency.
DATES: Effective Date: This system will be adopted without further notice on October 26, 2015 unless modified to respond to comments received from the public and published in a subsequent notice.
Comment Date: Comments must be received, in writing, on or before October 16, 2015.
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