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1. Indiana Clarifies Avian Flu Findings in Nine Flocks
Laboratory Results Confirmed Overnight
Indiana State Board of Animal Health Press Release
January 17, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS -- Laboratory testing of samples from eight of nine Southern Indiana turkey flocks was completed overnight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. While all nine were announced as H7 influenza-positive yesterday [1/16], the specific strain was yet to be determined. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has been informed eight are low-pathogenic H7N8. Testing continues on the remaining sample.
Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of illness to humans to be very low.
Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM calls this good news, and evidence that Indiana's aggressive surveillance and response efforts in Dubois County are working.
"The low-path H7N8 virus was identified during testing in the 10-km zone around the initial flu-positive flock," Dr. Marsh said. "Because flu viruses are constantly mutating, we want to catch any case as early as possible after infection. We know this virus strain can intensify, so finding these cases as low-path strains shows we are keeping pace with the spread of this disease in the area."
In addition to the HxNx naming scheme for specific strains, AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity-the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness. LPAI viruses have the potential to mutate into HPAI.
"This finding does not alter the aggressive control strategy BOAH has set forth," added Dr. Marsh. "Nor does it change our resolve to eliminate this virus wherever we find it."
Priority response by the state of Indiana and USDA continues on all the infected farms. Turkeys are being humanely euthanized on infected sites within 24 hours of diagnosis. Depopulation eliminates the source of infection to prevent the disease from spreading. Disposal of the turkeys, primarily via indoor composting, will be followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection of all barns.
Aggressive testing of other poultry farms in the area continues. During the last 24 hours, commercial farms have yielded 100 negative flu tests, beyond the nine new positives. In addition, state and federal teams have visited 503 residences in the area to identify any small flocks for testing. Tests are pending on 17 small flocks. Residential visits will continue in the 10-km area.
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2. Kentucky re-enacts bird sales, movement restrictions as proactive response to Ind. avian flu outbreak
Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture - Kentucky Ag News
January 15, 2016
FRANKFORT, Ky. - State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout has re-enacted restrictions on bird sales and movement in Kentucky to protect Kentucky's poultry industry and bird population from the avian influenza outbreak in southern Indiana that federal officials announced on Friday.
"We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution," Dr. Stout said. "Poultry is Kentucky's leading agricultural commodity, and we will do everything we can to keep our commercial and backyard poultry industries secure."
The Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) reinstated the following actions:
* All avian commingling sales events, including stockyards, flea markets, and swap meets, are banned. Sales of birds will not be allowed at any fair or show. A private sale with direct intrastate farm-to-farm movement is allowed per state regulation 302 KAR 20.065, section 7.
* Entry of birds into Kentucky for sale is restricted to poultry from facilities certified by the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) as free of H5 or H7 viruses. Entry from certified H5/H7-clean facilities within a state with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infections must meet Kentucky regulatory requirements. Entry from facilities within an HPAI control zone is banned.
* Entry of poultry into Kentucky for private sale or movement must be permitted by the OSV and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
* Game bird permit applications must originate from an NPIP-certified H5/H7-clean facility that meets the requirements of the OSV's poultry restrictions memo. Persons seeking a game bird permit also must obtain a transportation permit from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
* Exhibition events, shows, and fairs will be restricted to in-state birds only. No out-of-state birds will be allowed into Kentucky for exhibition purposes. All birds presented for exhibition shall be subject to inspection by Kentucky Department of Agriculture personnel.
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3. K-State swine diagnosticians publish first characterization of parainfluenza virus
Source: Kansas State University
National Hog Farmer
January 15, 2016
The usual suspects are not to blame for recent cases of respiratory disease in domestic pigs. Researchers in the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory have successfully published the first formal identification and characterization of porcine parainfluenza virus 1 from U.S. pigs, which had previously only been detected in Asia.
Benjamin Hause, an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Rachel Palinski, doctoral student in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, worked with a team of scientists that published its findings in the Nov. 17, 2015, issue of the Journal of General Virology in the article "Widespread detection and characterization of porcine parainfluenza virus 1 in pigs in the United States."
"The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory received diagnostic samples from pigs that showed signs of acute respiratory disease, sent to us from multiple states," Hause says. "The common agents are usually influenza or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; however, these samples were negative for both of these viruses. To identify other possible viruses present in the samples, we utilized advanced DNA sequencing methods, and the common finding was porcine parainfluenza virus 1. It's the first formal identification of this relatively newly described virus in the U.S. We were also surprised to find there is considerable genetic variability for porcine parainfluenza virus 1 between the different samples. They're not all identical viruses. There are mutants and probably different subtypes in the U.S., so there is genetic variation no one knew about before."
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4. USDA Proposes Updates to Select Agents Registration List and Select Agent Regulations
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
January 14, 2016
January 14, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is today proposing updates to its select agents registration list and select agent program regulations. These updates will help ensure the program remains effective in the future, and address challenges faced over the past year. APHIS and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) jointly administer the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP). Both agencies have reviewed their existing regulations and are proposing updates according to their respective responsibilities under the FSAP.
APHIS is proposing updates to the select agents and toxins registration list, as required every two years by the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. APHIS has completed its fourth biannual review of the list and is proposing to remove certain select agents that no longer need to be regulated as select agents:
Bacillus anthracis (Pasteur strain)
Brucella abortus and Brucella suis
Peronosclerospora philippinensis (Peronosclerospora sacchari)
Phoma glycinicola (formerly Pyrenochaeta glycines), and
Sclerophthora rayssiae
There are either no viable samples in the U.S., no climate conducive to growth, or there is adequate treatment available for these agents. By removing them from select agent regulations, APHIS is removing many of the restrictions on the possession, use and storage of these items. Of note, removing Brucella abortus from the select agent list will allow for additional research into vaccines for brucellosis.
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5. ADSA Announces Large Dairy Herd Management Conference and eBook
May 1-4, 2016; Oak Brook, IL
Conference Objective: To benefit a broad segment of the global dairy industry, the ADSA Foundation will undertake another major initiative; this time to meet the growing information needs of dairy farmers, service professionals, and students worldwide. In 1978, a symposium designed specifically to produce a book, Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM), was held in Gainesville, Florida. Speakers' presentations were developed into book chapters. In 1992, the book was updated under the co-editorship of Jack Van Horn and Charlie Wilcox.
In view of continuing interest in the second edition (1992) of LDHM and requests for an update, the Foundation will undertake an e-Book publication of a third edition of LDHM led by Dave Beede. As was the case in 1992, the ADSA Foundation will sponsor a conference to facilitate development of the third updated edition. This conference will be held in spring 2016 in the Chicago area. Dairy experts from around the world will be selected to prepare and present chapter papers as a first step in creating a comprehensive and essential resource-the e-Book third edition of LDHM. Final publication is anticipated in 2017.
To benefit a broad segment of the global dairy industry, the ADSA Foundation will undertake another major initiative; this time to meet the growing information needs of dairy farmers, service professionals, and students worldwide. In 1978, a symposium designed specifically to produce a book, Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM), was held in Gainesville, Florida. Speakers' presentations were developed into book chapters. In 1992, the book was updated under the co-editorship of Jack Van Horn and Charlie Wilcox.
In view of continuing interest in the second edition (1992) of LDHM and requests for an update, the Foundation will undertake an e-Book publication of a third edition of LDHM led by Dave Beede. As was the case in 1992, the ADSA Foundation will sponsor a conference to facilitate development of the third updated edition. This conference will be held in spring 2016 in the Chicago area. Dairy experts from around the world will be selected to prepare and present chapter papers as a first step in creating a comprehensive and essential resource-the e-Book third edition of LDHM. Final publication is anticipated in 2017.
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6. Denny's Is The Latest to Vow to Use Cage-Free Eggs by 2026
By John Kell
Fortune
January 14, 2016
The cage-free hen house is getting crowded: Denny's has become the latest restaurant operator to use egg sourcing it claims is a more humane treatment of animals.
The operator of about 1,700 restaurants globally vowed to serve 100% cage-free eggs in all of its U.S. restaurants by 2026. That window of time may seem long - but it is in line with the time frame outlined by other restaurants that have recently made similar commitments. Dunkin' Donuts DNKN -0.71% and McDonald's MCD -1.23% have both said it would take a decade to make the supply chain shift.
Yum Brands' YUM -4.17% Taco Bell outlined a much shorter deadline: promising the change would be implemented by the end of this year. But Taco Bell only recently began to serve breakfast, so eggs play a less important role at that concept's menu.
At Denny's, well known for serving all-day breakfast at its restaurants, eggs are a key ingredient. The company said it serves more than 400 million eggs annually. Breakfast and lunch account for almost 60% of the chain's roughly $2.6 billion in annual sales.
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7. IIAD mobile Certificate of Veterinary Inspection app now available for multiple devices
High Plains Journal
January 14, 2016
Recently, the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Center of Excellence, along with the Texas Center for Applied Technology, a part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, announced the expansion of their mobile Certificate of Veterinary Inspection application to multiple platforms to allow compatibility with both iOS and Android devices. With the platform expansion also comes a new name, mCVI, and look.
In June 2014, IIAD and TCAT created the pilot application, iCVI, to bring everyday utility to veterinarians who also use their mobile devices for IIAD's Enhanced Passive Surveillance program. Veterinarians and State Animal Health Officials across the country started utilizing the application almost immediately, as they saw utility in the ability to supporting animal health certificates from the field. Within the first year, 16 states had launched pilot programs, 500 verified accounts had been created and more than 7,000 CVIs had been submitted through the app, demonstrating a reach far beyond the initial EPS pilot veterinarians. Today, those numbers have risen to 500 verified accounts and 14,000 CVIs submitted through the app.
"The original iCVI app was only available for iPads," said Keith Biggers, Ph.D., TCAT director for computing and information technology and IIAD information analysis systems theme leader. "However, from the beginning, we had inquiries from potential users about the possibility of expanding the app to other devices and operating platforms. Throughout the entire process, we've worked closely with SAHOs and veterinarians in participating states to continue refining and optimizing the app to fit stakeholders needs. We found that expanding to multiple platforms was a major priority."
In July 2015, IIAD and TCAT announced further development funding to adapt the iPad application to multiple platforms had been secured and work began on the new app.
"With the expansion, we wanted to convey the operability across multiple mobile platforms-not just iOS," said Matt Cochran, DVM, AgConnect program director. "In addition to a new name, the mCVI application and AgConnect also have a new, updated logo to better reflect the nature of these forward-thinking technologies and how they are of benefit to veterinarians and SAHOs in the field."
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