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USAHA News Alert Summaries - February 8, 2016 - In this issue:
1. First Case of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy Reported in Georgia
2. New CWD Case Discovered at Captive Deer Release Site [TX]
3. Two deer shot in Allamakee County test positive for CWD [IA]
4. APHIS Announces Interim Rule on Indemnity for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
5. NOTICE: CVB Notice 16-02 Availability of Avian Influenza Isolate and Sequence Information
6. NOTICE: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
7. The FSIS Salmonella Action Plan: A Two Year Update
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1. First Case of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy Reported in Georgia
Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Press Release
February 5, 2016
 
 
Georgia has had its first confirmed case of EHV-1, Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a type of equine herpesvirus infection that is highly contagious to other horses and causes severe disease. EHV-1 can cause fever, abortion, respiratory disease and neurologic disease. The virus is species specific, so it does not affect humans, dogs, cats, etc.; however, alpacas and llamas can be affected.
 
The horse was admitted to the University of Georgia College Of Veterinary Medicine Hospital on January 31, 2016, showing neurological abnormalities. After progressively worsening clinical signs and a poor prognosis, the horse was euthanized. Tests confirm that the horse was positive for EHM.
 
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) State Veterinarian Robert Cobb is working closely with the University of Georgia Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital to alert and provide recommendations for quarantine procedures and exposure protocols. GDA inspectors have been dispatched to all known contacts and have placed quarantines to ensure non movement. At this time, none of the horses have symptoms of EHM. Quarantined premises include the originating premises of the positive horse, a Georgia facility; premises of all equine that were present in the facility at the same time as the positive horse and the Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital equine facilities. Protocols are being developed for monitoring and testing of all horses under quarantine.
 
Equine owners should practice appropriate biosecurity. The virus can be spread by horse to horse contact and contaminated equipment. Owners should contact their veterinarian if symptoms are present.
 
For updates and more information about EHV-1, please visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.georgia.gov or call GDA's Animal Health department at 404-656-3667.
 
 
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2. New CWD Case Discovered at Captive Deer Release Site [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
February 5, 2016
 
 
AUSTIN - A 3 1/2-year-old captive raised white-tailed buck harvested in early January by a hunter from a release site on a ranch in Medina and Uvalde counties has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The deer's origin has been identified as an onsite breeding facility and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are conducting an epidemiological investigation.
Tissue samples revealed the presence of CWD prions during testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. The samples were submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which validated the suspect findings.
 
 
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3. Two deer shot in Allamakee County test positive for CWD [IA]
By Dar Danielson
Radio Iowa
February 5, 2016
 
 
Samples from two deer taken during the hunting season in Allamakee County have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. DNR spokesman, Kevin Baskins, says it's the third straight year CWD has been found in the eastern Iowa area.
 
Baskins says these two year were in the same general vicinity that the infected deer have been found in the last two years. Three deer were found with CWD in Allamakee County last year and the northeast Iowa location leads Baskins to a couple of conclusions.
 
"One, there is at least a little hot spot in Iowa - that they are all congregated in that county in a relatively small area," Baskins says. And he says it tells them something they expected all along - that deer infected with CWD in nearby Wisconsin could be making their way across the river into our state. "All along, even before Iowa had a deer test positive for CWD, that was an area of interest for us."
 
 
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4. APHIS Announces Interim Rule on Indemnity for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
February 5, 2016
 
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing an interim rule that outlines conditions for the payment of indemnity claims for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This interim rule is due to publish in the Federal Register in the coming week.
 
The outbreak of HPAI in spring 2015 had profound impacts on poultry producers, allied industries, and federal and state governments. APHIS learned a lot through the experience of responding to this emergency and through input from our State partners, industry, academia, and other stakeholders. We committed to examining any issues and modifying our processes where needed, and the publication of this interim rule is in line with that commitment.
 
*   The interim rule:   clarifies an existing policy that allows for the payment of indemnity for eggs destroyed by HPAI response;
*   provides a formula to allow indemnity payments to be split between poultry and egg owners and their contracted growers; and,
*   requires owners and contractors to provide a statement that they had a biosecurity plan in place at the time HPAI was detected in their facilities in order to receive indemnity. This requirement includes limited exemptions.
 
These actions are being taken in an effort to solidify policies surrounding the payment of indemnity and further strengthen biosecurity adherence at poultry operations. In addition, APHIS is requesting comments and ideas through this rule on how the Agency should develop a stronger accountability system for monitoring industry biosecurity practices.
 
Public comments on the interim rule will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Registration. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
 
   Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0061.
   Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2015-0061, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
 
The interim rule will be effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
 
-- Docket No. APHIS-2015-0061
 
 
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5. NOTICE: CVB Notice 16-02 Availability of Avian Influenza Isolate and Sequence Information
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
February 4, 2016
 
 
The Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) recently added CVB Notice 16-02 Availability of Avian Influenza Isolate and Sequence Information to its website which may be accessed by clicking the following link: CVB Newly Published Information [See: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_biologics/publications/notice_16_02.pdf ]
 
The purpose of this notice is to furnish interested parties with the genetic sequences from the H7N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus and low pathogenic (LPAI) viruses isolated from turkeys in Indiana on January 15, 2016. This notice also informs interested parties that the HPAI isolate will be available for purchase from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) by mid-February 2016.
 
Note that the HPAI isolate must be transferred in compliance with the Select Agent Regulations. No Material Transfer Agreement will be required. This isolate is not a pre-tested Master Seed; it is being made available for research and development. The availability of this isolate does not infer any impending change in vaccination policy.
 
 
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6. NOTICE: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
February 5, 2016
 
 
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) responded to the worst animal health emergency in U.S. history in 2015. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is publishing a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact for the agency's highly pathogenic avian influenza response and control plans. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires agencies to study the potential impact of their significant program actions and decisions on the human environment.
 
APHIS will use centralized management of carcass disposal activities to ensure consistency in responses to HPAI outbreaks throughout the United States. APHIS will implement the approach outlined in the EA should HPAI viruses reappear, and those actions will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
 
 
 
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7. The FSIS Salmonella Action Plan: A Two Year Update
USDA Food Safety Inspection Service
February 2016
 
 
Introduction
 
Preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health are the primary functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States is Salmonella. An estimated 1.2 million illnesses are thought to be caused every year by Salmonella, with approximately 375,000 Salmonella illnesses attributed to FSIS-regulated products in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. After a decade in which there was little progress in bringing down the rate of illness from Salmonella, the FSIS Administrator established the Strategic Performance Working Group (SPWG) in 2012 to critically review data and to solicit and coordinate new ideas within the Agency on how to improve the Agency's performance. Its first target was Salmonella.
 
On December 4, 2013, FSIS released its Salmonella Action Plan (hereafter referred to as the Plan), which outlined a list of priority near-term and longer-term actions developed by the SPWG that the Agency intended to take to address Salmonella in FSIS-regulated products.
 
This update summarizes accomplishments during the past two years. Because most of the actions listed in the Plan have been completed or are nearing completion, FSIS will not provide future Plan-specific updates. FSIS considers the Plan to have fulfilled its purpose of focusing FSIS' Salmonella-related activities. Any remaining actions will be completed through the regular course of the Agency's work. While the Agency prides itself on the completion of the activities detailed in the Plan, it also re-affirms its commitment to the goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses caused by FSIS-regulated products, and looks forward to building on the successes and progress achieved through the Plan.
 
 
 
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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.