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1. Texas State Veterinarian to Retire December 31, 2015; Dr. Andy Schwartz named Interim State Veterinarian
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
December 29, 2015
AUSTIN, TX - Dr. Dee Ellis, State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), has announced that he will retire December 31, ending his more than 30 years of service to the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
Dr. Ellis first joined the TAHC as an Animal Health Inspector in 1977 while completing a bachelor degree in Animal Science. After obtaining his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University, Ellis returned to the agency in 1985 as a field veterinarian. In 1986, he was promoted to Region Director for Central Texas, a position he held for 18 years.
In 2002, Ellis completed a Master of Public Administration degree from Texas State University and the year after, he transferred to the TAHC's Austin headquarters as a staff veterinarian. In 2004, Ellis was named Assistant Executive Director for Animal Health Programs. He served in that role until January 2010, when the commission announced that Dr. Ellis would lead the agency as the Executive Director and State Veterinarian.
TAHC's longtime Assistant Executive Director of Epidemiology & Laboratory Systems, Dr. Andy Schwartz, has been appointed Interim Executive Director.
"Dr. Schwartz is nationally recognized among regulatory veterinarians and policy makers. He has worked closely with USDA and state animal health officials on a variety of issues and has been a leader at the TAHC since he joined the agency in 1990. The Commission is confident in Dr. Schwartz's dedication to the TAHC and its mission to protect the health of Texas livestock and poultry. We look forward to working with him in this role," TAHC Chairman Ernie Morales said.
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2. Iowa to lift ban on poultry shows, live auctions
By Molly Montag
The Globe Gazette
December 29, 2015
DES MOINES -- Iowa is lifting its ban on poultry exhibitions and bird auctions.
Previously, all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, livestock auctions, swap meets and exotic sales were banned in order to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship plans to lift the ban on Friday.
"This is very good news and another sign that we continue to recover from this devastating animal health emergency. We know the ban on exhibitions caused some real challenges for those anticipating showing or selling birds, but we appreciate everyone cooperating as we worked to stop the disease and then allow the industry to recover," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said in a statement.
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3. Researchers Warn of Potential for Swine Flu Pandemic
By Kimberly Leonard
U.S. News & World Report
December 29, 2015
Flu viruses found among pigs in China appear able to spread in humans and have the potential to cause a pandemic, researchers say.
Authors of a study published online Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America wrote their finding suggests "immediate action is needed to prevent the efficient transmission" of such viruses to humans.
"Based on our data, I think that the public should know the risk," says Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a study author and professor in the division of virology at the University of Tokyo.
Though vaccines to prevent flu in pigs exist, authors of the report say they generally aren't used in China, which produces the world's largest supply of pork.
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4. UC Davis Researchers Seeking Appaloosas for Clinical Trial
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
December 29, 2015
Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine are seeking Appaloosa horses for participation in a clinical trial on equine recurrent uveitis (ERU).
Equine recurrent uveitis is an ocular condition that occurs when there is recurrent inflammation along the uveal tract in the eye and is a leading cause of blindness in horses.
"Appaloosa horses, known best for their white coat spotting patterns (termed leopard complex or LP), are eight times more likely than any other breed to develop this disease and four times more likely to go blind, suggesting genetics plays a major contributing role," a clinical trial description from UC Davis read. "However, little is known about the specific genetic factors involved. The objective of this study is to determine the genetic factors contributing to ERU in Appaloosa horses."
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5. LDAF advises to prepare livestock for possible flooding [LA]
The News Star
December 29, 2015
Baton Rouge -The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is reminding livestock owners to be ready in the event of flooding that may occur mid to late January.
"Out of an abundance of caution, I'm alerting our livestock owners to be aware of the potential for flooding along the Mississippi River and Red River Valley. Pay attention to local forecasts and advisories," said Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. "It's also a good idea to double check the condition of livestock trailers and other equipment used to move large animals out of harm's way."
When evacuations are recommended, owners of large animals should leave as early as possible to avoid road closures.
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USAHA News Alert Summaries is a service provided to its members as a timely, up-to-date source of news affecting animal health and related subjects, intended for personal use by USAHA members. Information in these articles does not necessarily represent the views or positions of USAHA.
Sources of articles are state, national and international media outlets, press releases, and direct from organizations or agencies. Each article includes direct citation and link. Comments, questions or concerns about the information included in each article should be directed to the source in addition to USAHA. While USAHA strives for accuracy in the information it shares, the News Alert Summaries should be treated as a tool that provides a snapshot of information being reported regarding animal health and related subjects.
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