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April 30, 2009
U.S. 'concerned' as swine flu rages
Philly.com - President Obama said yesterday that the swine-flu outbreak - with origins in central Mexico - is a cause for "concern" but not "alarm," http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090428_U_S___concerned__as_swine_flu_rages.htmlPosted by sball at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
The 5,500-Pound Question
WashingtonPost.com - How to Move a Hippo 800 Miles? Zoo Officials Are Thinking: Very Carefully. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/29/AR2009042903055.htmlPosted by sball at 08:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2009
Animal welfare researchers under one roof for the first time
K9magazine.com - One of the world's best-known naturalists and broadcasters, Sir David Attenborough, will officially open a new state-of-the-art Animal Welfare and Behaviour building at the University of Bristol's Vet School tomorrow [Thursday 30April]. http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=17&aid=2321&vid=0&npage=Posted by sball at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)
Update on Flu Outbreak in Mexico – Center for Disease Control Issues Travel Notice for Mexico; All Schools Closed and Nonessential Consular and Visa Services in Mexico Suspended until May 6
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_warden_090427update_FluOutbreak.htmlPosted by sball at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico Suspends all Visa and Non-Emergency American Citizen Services for the Week of April 27 – 30, 2009
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_warden_090425update_FluOutbreak.htmlPosted by sball at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
U.S. Pork Supply Is Safe; This Swine Flu Not Spread by Human-Hog Contact
Farm and Dairy - Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the American Veterinary Medical Association, is also getting the word out that the virus appears only to be transmitted from human to human. http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/us-pork-supply-is-safe-this-swine-flu-not-spread-by-human-hog-contact/11864.htmlPosted by sball at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)
WHO to release swine flu clinical findings
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE - The new strain -- a combination of two types of swine influenza, avian influenza and human influenza - still has not shown up in any United States swine herds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). But veterinarians have been urged to be vigilant in their care of swine herds and pork producers have been advised to enhance biosecurity measures. http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/WHO-to-release-swine-flu-clinical-findings/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/595393?contextCategoryId=378Posted by sball at 06:38 AM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2009
Swine Influenza Websites
Swine Influenza WebsitesPosted by sball at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Influenza Medicines, Diagnostic Test in Response to Swine Flu Outbreak in Humans
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in response to requests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) to make available to public health and medical personnel important diagnostic and therapeutic tools to identify and respond to the swine flu virus under certain circumstances. The agency issued these EUAs for the use of certain Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral products, and for the rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02002.htmlPosted by sball at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)
World Health Organization – Swine influenza
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.htmlPosted by sball at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
Press Briefing on Swine Influenza with Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and White House
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1240773850207.shtmPosted by sball at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)
CDC - Swine Influenza Website
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/Posted by sball at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
Polo horses' deaths expected to spark reform
LATimes.com - The U.S. Polo Assn. says it will announce plans for additional protections for the animals. An Argentina newspaper reports that a lethal dose of selenium was behind the 21 deaths last weekend. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dead-horses25-2009apr25,0,6692877.storyPosted by sball at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)
U.S. health emergency declared over swine flu
Baltimore Sun - U.S. officials declared a public health emergency Sunday as eight cases of swine flu were identified in New York and one was announced Ohio, bringing the total of confirmed U.S. cases to 20. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.swineflu27apr27,0,3276988.storyPosted by sball at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)
University of Michigan repays $1.4 million in federal funds for animal research
MLive.com, MI - The University of Michigan repaid $1.4 million in federal grants last year after using the money for animal research that lacked proper approvals. http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/university_of_michigan_forced.htmlPosted by sball at 09:23 AM | Comments (0)
New animal euthanasia rules coming from state
Salisbury Post, NC - New euthanasia rules set by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will require animal shelters to euthanize unwanted cats and dogs by lethal injection when they are younger than 16 weeks old, pregnant or near death due to sickness or injury. http://www.salisburypost.com/Area/042809-Euthanasia-sidebarPosted by sball at 09:21 AM | Comments (0)
Bahrain pounces on trade in wild animals
MANAMA (AFP) – Bahraini authorities are seeking to tame a roaring trade in wild animals, which are being smuggled in to meet fierce demand for exotic creatures in the tiny Gulf archipelago. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090425/wl_mideast_afp/bahrainwildlifesmugglingPosted by sball at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2009
Update By Secretary Of Agriculture Vilsack Regarding USDA Outreach Efforts Regarding Swine Influenza A (H1N1)
"As promised, I wanted to keep you up to date on our outreach efforts. First, let me say again to consumers, there is no evidence at this time that U.S. swine have been infected with this virus. Second, I want to reiterate the same message to our trading partners - our pork and pork products are safe. The discovery of this virus in humans is not a basis for restricting imports of commercially produced U.S. pork and pork products. Any trade restrictions would be inconsistent with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines. USDA is working closely with the U.S. Trade Representative's office on these issues. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0132.xmlPosted by sball at 02:41 PM | Comments (0)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SWINE AND HUMAN CASES OF SWINE INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
USDA FAQ's on Swine Flu - http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0131.xmlPosted by sball at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)
Humane Euthanasia
Extension.org When to euthanize is probably the hardest decision a horse owner will need to make, but it is a better alternative than neglect or prolonged suffering. http://www.extension.org/pages/Humane_EuthanasiaPosted by sball at 08:16 AM | Comments (0)
USGS Scientists to Conduct Media Teleconference at 3:00 PM EST on Population Trends for Endangered Humpback Chub
Who: Matthew Andersen, Supervisory Fish Biologist USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center What: Grand Canyon Humpback Chub Update Time: 3:00 PM Eastern Time/12:00 PM Mountain Standard Time Date: Monday, April 27, 2009 Call-in for Credentialed Media: (877) 953-4172 participant code: 8654249# http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2205&from=rssPosted by sball at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)
Technologies Improve FMD Detection and Control
Improving the detection and control of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle could result from technology being developed and tested by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090423.htmPosted by sball at 07:58 AM | Comments (0)
CDC - Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
What is Swine Influenza? Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htmPosted by sball at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)
USDA and NIH Funded International Science Consortium Publishes Analysis of Domestic Cattle Genome Sequence
Research Will Lead to Better Understanding of Genetic Basis of Disease. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0125.xmlPosted by sball at 07:53 AM | Comments (0)
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Maryland Governor O'Malley Sign Agreement to Protect Drinking Water, Chesapeake Bay
Since the inception of CREP, Maryland farmers, ranchers and landowners have enrolled more than 74,000 acres and removed sensitive cropland and marginal pastureland out of production. Instead of tilling these acres, they have used program incentives to plant streamside buffers, establish wetlands, protect highly erodible land and create wildlife habitat. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0127.xmlPosted by sball at 07:51 AM | Comments (0)
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE VILSACK REGARDING HUMAN CASES OF SWINE INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
"I would like to express my deepest sympathies for those who have lost loved ones to the flu as well as those who have been sickened. I also wanted to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus. According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills all viruses and other foodborne pathogens. USDA has in place, and did so before the last week's events, a surveillance system to monitor animal health. As an additional precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach out to agriculture officials in every state to affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state. USDA will continue to work with other government agencies to monitor the situation and keep the public informed." http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/04/0130.xmlPosted by sball at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)