|
* * * * * * * * * *
1. 156K chickens added to list of poultry being euthanized
Associated Press
ABC13.com
January 19, 2016
HUNTINGBURG, IN -- Animal health officials investigating a bird flu outbreak in southwest Indiana have ordered 156,000 chickens at one of 10 affected commercial poultry farms to be euthanized, raising the total number of birds to be killed above 400,000.
The egg-laying chickens were housed at one of the 10 commercial farms where turkeys had been infected with the H7N8 virus and were at a high risk of contracting it themselves, Indiana State Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer said Tuesday.
The H7N8 strain is different than the H5N2 virus that led to the deaths of 48 million birds last summer.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the Indiana outbreak has been a test of whether officials are ready for future bird flu outbreaks and shows the need to stay on guard year-round.
"It is a wake-up call. It was a good opportunity to see if we're responding the way we should and I think we did," he said Tuesday at renewable fuels summit in Iowa.
All of the turkey farms where the virus has been found are in Dubois County, a county about 70 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, that is Indiana's top poultry producer.
Full text:
********
|
|
2. EHV-1 Confirmed in Los Angeles County, California
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
January 19, 2016
A Los Angeles County, California, horse is in quarantine after testing positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) earlier this month.
"A draft-cross gelding displaying neurologic signs has been confirmed positive for the non-neuropathogenic strain of equine herpesvirus-1," the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) said in a Jan. 6 statement. "A small percentage of the non-neuropathogenic-infected horses can display neurologic signs compatible with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy which is a reportable disease in California. The positive horse has been quarantined and isolated."
The CDFA said no horses have entered or left the affected premises since last September, and all exposed horses are being monitored. As of Jan. 15, no new cases had been reported.
Full text:
********
|
|
3. NAFTA countries sign letter on avian flu
Feedstuffs
January 19, 2016
In a historic government/industry collaboration, the U.S., Canada and Mexico and their respective poultry and egg industries jointly announced Jan. 19 that they have entered into an arrangement to enhance collaboration on avian influenza and to work toward harmonizing procedures for responding to possible future detections of the virus.
Government animal health authorities from the three countries, together with the heads of trade associations that represent the poultry and egg industries, signed a letter of understanding on avian influenza during a ceremony in Los Cabos, Mexico.
"Mexico and Canada represent the lion's share of our poultry and egg trade," said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). "Together, these two markets account for more than two-thirds of all U.S. turkey exports, nearly two-thirds of our egg trade and a third of our broiler exports - an annual value of almost $2 billion. That's about one-third of the value of all U.S. poultry and egg exports in any given year."
The letter recognizes that the spread of avian influenza by migratory birds is perhaps one of greatest challenges facing the global poultry industry and that it is incumbent on the partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to harmonize their methods for dealing with avian influenza to keep their poultry production systems safe and sustainable and to minimize trade disruptions that can result from virus detections in commercial poultry.
The arrangement also creates a tripartite working group comprised of government animal health officials and industry representatives from the three countries that will serve as a forum for regular scientific discussions on avian influenza and that will also consider any recommendations involving the virus made by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Full text:
********
|
|
4. NOTICE: USDA Revises Regulations for Exporting Live Animals to Provide Additional Flexibility
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
January 19, 2016
The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is publishing a final rule updating its regulations for the export of live animals. The updated regulations provide additional flexibility and better facilitate exports in today's business environment, while continuing to ensure the health and welfare of the livestock.
The new regulations update most of the requirements for export certifications, tests, and treatments. APHIS would continue to retain certain export requirements that we consider necessary to ensure the health and welfare of the animals, such as issuance of export health certificates (EHCs) for livestock intended for export.
The final rule also includes the following changes:
If the importing country requires EHCs for animals other than livestock, hatching eggs or animal germplasm, then we would require such certificates.
Under certain circumstances, pre-export livestock inspection would be allowed to occur at facilities other than an export inspection facility at the port of embarkation; and
Specific standards for export inspection facilities and ocean transport vessels would be replaced with performance standards.
These changes are in line with the agency's ongoing effort to review and streamline its regulations. The goal is to make our regulations more responsive to customer needs, easier to update in the future and more performance-based.
The regulations are currently on display in the Federal Register and can be viewed at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/20/2016-00962/exportation-of-live-animals-hatching-eggs-and-animal-germplasm-from-the-united-states. The regulations become effective on Friday, February 19, 2016.
********
|
|
5. Minnesota producers to discuss expanding CVIs to disclose PRRS, PEDV status
National Hog Farmer
January 18, 2016
Minnesota pork producers will be discussing a proposal to partner with the state Board of Animal Health to gather information about the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus status of pigs entering Minnesota, to lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of disease control.
Minnesota Pork Producers Association has been discussing the proposal to partner with the BAH by asking them to request that certificates of veterinary inspection of all pigs entering Minnesota include a statement disclosing the PRRS and PED status of the herd of origin, if known. No movement restrictions would be imposed, and all pigs, regardless of status, could enter the state.
This proposal will be discussed during an open forum 9-10 a.m. Jan. 19 during the Minnesota Pork Congress at the Minneapolis Convention Center. David Wright, a veterinarian with Wright Veterinary Services, and Beth Thompson with the Minnesota BAH will present information on the proposal.
Wright and Thompson will answer and questions from producers and industry, and there will also be time for producers to offer input.
********
|
|
6. BVD forum helps producers save money, save cows [edited]
Wisconsin State Farmer
January 19, 2016
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- The National Institute for Animal Agriculture plans to host a one-day forum for beef producers and veterinary practitioners on handling the disease.
This is an important symposium as BVD is extremely problematic and costly for both beef and dairy producers.
BVD affects the production abilities of cows and can cause the loss of calves. Transient infection symptoms include diarrhea, decreased milk production, reproductive disorders, increased occurrence of other diseases and death.
Fetal infection can cause abortions, congenital birth defects, abnormally weak and small calves, persistently infected (PI) animals. PI animals represent an important source of disease risk both within the herd and across the industry.
According to the USDA, acute BVD outbreaks can cost producers between $50 and $100 per cow.
The NIAA Forum will educate attendees on the importance of greater attentiveness toward BVD, similar to what has been done for Johne's disease, to increase the welfare of their animals and reduce the economic losses associated with BVD.
The forum will be held April 7, in conjunction with the NIAA Annual Conference which runs April 4-7, in Kansas City, MO at the Downtown Marriott. For more information, visit animalagriculture.org or contact the NIAA by calling 719-538-8843 or emailing niaa@animalagriculture.org.
********
|
|
7. OIE Shares New Strategic Plan Details
By Christa Lest�-Lasserre, MA
TheHorse.com
January 19, 2016
Sharing scientific knowledge, encouraging open communication, and supporting the sustainability of veterinary services throughout the world are key aspects of the new strategic objectives of the World Health Organization for Animals (OIE). These are all particularly important in the emerging context of animal health that's dependent on human health and environmental health, and vice-versa, OIE officials said.
The organization's new Director General Monique Eloit, DVM, and the Deputy Director General Brian Evans, DVM, unveiled the details of this "Sixth Strategic Plan" Jan. 13 at the OIE headquarters in Paris, France. The plan applies to the next five years, through 2020.
"Through a reinforced relationship with our scientific partners, we aim to open up towards new horizons, not only in advanced technology, but also in other sciences which aren't necessarily veterinary science, which will permit us to address more comprehensively the complexity of global challenges," said Eloit. These "global challenges," such as global warming, extremes of weather conditions, loss of biodiversity, and the continued evolution of human health consequences have direct effects on animal health, she said.
Their initiative aims to improve animal health and welfare worldwide while contributing to the reduction of disease transmission that can occur naturally via vectors, accidentally through trade and transport, or deliberately. They also intend to take advantage of the latest advances in diagnostic and information technology to help reduce the spread of disease.
Full text:
********
|
|
