Equine Piroplasmosis Disease Investigation Continues

Canada and a number of U.S. states have imposed movement restrictions or additional entry requirements for horses from Texas after equine piroplasmosis, a tick-transmitted blood disease of equine animals, such as horses, donkeys, mules and zebras, was detected in South Texas in mid-October.  Equine piroplasmosis may be carried and transmitted by as many as 15 [...]

Infection of farmed animals with the pandemic virus

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 15
5 NOVEMBER 2009 | GENEVA – To date, extensive testing by laboratories in the WHO influenza surveillance network has detected no signs that the H1N1 pandemic virus has mutated to a more virulent form. Currently licensed pandemic vaccines closely match circulating viruses and are expected to confer good protection.
Vigilance for changes [...]

Evolution of pandemic H1N1 2009 in animals

Paris , 04 November 2009 – The OIE is closely monitoring the world animal health situation including with regard to infections of all susceptible animals with the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus.
Regular reports of countries notifying the presence of the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus in animals to the OIE show disease surveillance in animals and [...]

GOVERNMENT TO STUDY UNWANTED HORSE ISSUES

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been tasked with examining how horse processing plant closures have affected equine welfare. The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that provides Congress with objective, fact-based information intended to improve performance and accountability of federal agencies. Continue reading…

Tick-Transmitted Horse Disease Detected on South Texas Ranch

Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us

A tick-borne disease known as equine piroplasmosis has been confirmed on a ranch in South Texas.  Additional testing is being conducted [...]

Oregon ferret infected with H1N1 by its owner

October 20, 2009
A ferret with a respiratory infection was examined by a Portland, Oregon veterinary clinic on October 5, 2009. After learning the ferret’s owner had recently been ill with the flu, the veterinarian contacted the Oregon state veterinarian’s office and submitted a nasal swab from the ill ferret. Infection with the 2009/H1N1 virus was [...]

Rabies vaccine sales restrictions lifted

Health officials and suppliers are no longer restricting purchases of pre-exposure rabies vaccine from either of the nation’s suppliers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in late August that Sanofi Pasteur had finished renovations at a rabies vaccine production facility in France, and the restored manufacturing capacity coincided with the end of restrictions on [...]

Wis. officials: Horse virus growing deadlier

MADISON, Wis. – Horse owners, beware. An equine virus is growing more dangerous.
The equine herpes virus type 1, or EHV-1, usually causes a respiratory infection. But the virus also takes a different form that strikes a horse’s central nervous system, sometimes causing death.
Read more…

As Ohio considers livestock treatment, Michigan crafts law

By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS – As Ohio farmers prepare for a ballot showdown with animal rights activists over livestock confinement practices, Michigan has quietly followed a different path.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign legislation making Michigan the seventh state to enact laws requiring that laying hens, breeding hogs, and veal calves have [...]

Veterinary group’s Congressional agenda focuses on workforce issues

Schaumburg, IL
“Congratulations, you’ve finally earned your veterinary degree. Here’s a bill for $130,000.”
Veterinary school graduates are entering the profession today with educational debt that resembles an average mortgage in the United States. What a graduation gift.
With average educational debt approaching the estimated $136,000 average of a U.S. home mortgage, veterinarians new to the field face [...]