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1. Updated: Superbug found in Illinois and South Carolina
By Lena H. Sun
The Washington Post
June 15, 2016
U.S. officials have found bacteria resistant to the antibiotic of last resort in a sample from a second pig, increasing concerns about the spread of a newly discovered superbug that initially surfaced in this country in March.
The latest report involves an antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli from a pig intestine, which was detected by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a spokeswoman said Monday evening. The E. coli bacteria carried a gene making it resistant to the antibiotic colistin, the drug used against particularly dangerous types of superbugs that can already withstand many other antibiotics.
The sample is still undergoing analysis. The bacteria were detected May 27, nearly three months after the first discovery of the gene in a pig sample.
On Wednesday, USDA officials said the most recent pig sample came from a slaughterhouse in Illinois. The first sample came from a slaughterhouse in South Carolina.
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2. W.Va. horse owners warned of virus outbreak
TheNewsCenter.tv
June 15, 2016
Jackson County, W.Va. (WTAP) - Some West Virginia horse owners are being warned about a virus outbreak.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture says there's an outbreak of equine influenza virus.
Horse owners in Jackson and adjoining counties are being told to keep the animals on their farms.
It's believed the source of the disease is a horse show held around the first of the month in Jackson County.
That facility was decontaminated, but horse shows in the county are cancelled for now.
Symptoms include fever and respiratory issues.
Veterinarians say it's very contagious, but there are vaccines available.
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3. Wisconsin EHV-1 Quarantine Released
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
June 15, 2016
A quarantine put in place after a horse tested positive for neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) at a Wisconsin stable has been lifted.
On May 12 the 50-horse stable in West Bend was quarantined after a horse began showing neurologic signs of disease and tested positive for the virus. That horse was subsequently euthanized.
The Equine Disease Communication Center reported that "daily monitoring, strict isolation, and biosecurity measures taken by the stable owner and follow-up testing done by the stable's veterinarian resulted in a rapid resolution of the outbreak and with no evidence of spread off the premises."
The quarantine was officially lifted on June 13.
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4. Seminar speakers urge livestock producers to have farm security plans
By Lori Potter, Hub Staff writer
Kearney Hub
June 15, 2016
KEARNEY - Nebraska's farms and ranches should have plans to help "YouTube proof" their animal agriculture businesses, participants at a Kearney livestock crisis management seminar were told Tuesday.
All such plans start with a commitment to quality animal care.
"We don't want to give them (animal rights activists) anything to use," Animal Agriculture Alliance Director of Communications Hannah Thompson of Arlington, Va., said at the seminar sponsored by We Support Agriculture, a coalition of Nebraska animal agriculture organizations and Nebraska Farm Bureau.
Plans also must address security, Thompson said, including protecting against the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, ensuring the safety of livestock and of people who aren't trained to be around livestock, and limiting access in general.
She said the Animal Agriculture Alliance is a nonprofit with members from all segments of the livestock industry. In addition to providing information and support for members, the staff monitors activities of anti-agriculture groups so that industry leaders can respond to misinformation presented to the public.
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5. Coalition calls for more investment in ag research
By John Maday
DairyHerd.com
June 15, 2016
In terms of global competition, the United States has long enjoyed a dominant position in agriculture and food production. Our system of research, extension and teaching, through our Land Grant universities, has helped drive innovation and kept us at the forefront of agricultural technology. That advantage is slipping though, as investment in agricultural research declines.
In response, the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation and 13 universities recently released a report calling for more federal investment to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population.
The report, titled "Retaking the Field," highlights recent scientific innovations and illustrates how US agricultural production is losing ground to China and other global competitors
The report cites USDA statistics saying the U.S. agriculture sector was responsible for nearly 1 in 10 jobs in 2014 and contributed $835 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product. The coalition also notes that while every public dollar invested in agricultural research provides $20 in economic returns, the federal budget for agricultural research has remained flat for decades, and the United States has fallen behind China in agricultural production and public research funding.
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6. Canada targets U.S. truck washes in fight against PEDv
By Tom Polansek, Reuters
PorkNetwork.com
June 15, 2016
Canadian farm groups are blasting U.S. truck washes for being too dirty to prevent the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) that has killed millions of piglets in recent years, exposing a dispute over the effectiveness of such facilities in North American agriculture.
The brewing battle over trucks comes as Manitoba, which slaughters more swine than any other Canadian province, has reported its first new cases of PEDv in 16 months.
Provincial government officials have identified three infected farms in the past two weeks, after Canada's food inspection agency in May revived a requirement that trucks delivering pigs to U.S. farms be washed before returning home. A spokeswoman for Manitoba Pork, a trade association, said Thursday she did not know how many pigs had died.
The infections are fueling concerns among Canadian farmers and veterinarians that commercial U.S. washes are contaminated with the virus and raising the risk for outbreaks. There is no proof linking U.S. facilities to the latest cases, they said.
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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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