Veterinary Public Health E-Bulletin (Nº20)

NEWS

LATEST OUTBREAKS – VPH NORTH AMERICA (USA) AnthraxThe Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed that one four-year-old cow in Pennington County died of anthrax earlier this week. […] SOUTH AMERICA (Mexico) Avian Influenza HPAI H7N3Mexico Ministry of Agriculture has reported 5 new outbreaks in Puebla,Aguascalientes and Guanajuata regions in farm birds. […] EUROPE (Spain) RabiesA mixed-breed dog having presumably been in Morocco from December 2012 until April 2013 has been confirmed with rabies infection in Toledo. […] EUROPE (Greece) RabiesA new case of rabies has been confirmed in a dead red fox collected in the framework of the programme of rabies passive surveillance. […] EUROPE (Netherlands) Avian Influenza LPAI H7N1Netherlands reports continuing outbreak of LPAI H7N1, with the latest outbreak reported from a farm in Leusden, Utrecht. […] EUROPE (Denmark) Avian Influenza LPAI H7A new outbreak of LPAI has been reported in a hatchery of farmed game birds comprising of mainly mallards and pheasants. […] EUROPE (Greece) RabiesA dead red fox collected in the framework of programme of rabies passive surveillance has been confirmed of Lyssa virus infection. […] ASIA (Chinese Taipei) Avian Influenza H7N9The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of an additional laboratory confirmed case of human infection with Avian Influenza A (H7N9) virus. […] EURASIA (Azerbaijan) AnthraxAzerbaijan reports outbreak of anthrax among migrating sheep in Gyrsul, siazen. […]  To view reported cases of animal diseases visit the EMPRES-I website EMPRES-i is a global animal health information system of the FAO's EMPRES programme that focuses on the user need to easily find and collect in one place all the information available for animal health and transboundary animal diseases. EMPRES-i compiles, stores and verifies animal diseases outbreaks data (including zoonoses) from numerous sources (e.g. FAO representatives, FAO reports, OIE reports, official government, European Commission, FAO reference centres and laboratories) for early warning and risk analysis.  FOOD SAFETY NEWS UK appoints expert to lead review on horsemeat scandal June 4, 2013. UK food minister Owen Paterson has revealed that Professor Chris Elliot of Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland has been asked to lead an independent review into the horsemeat scandal. […] Calculation of antibiotic use on farmsMay 30, 2013. The question of how much antibiotics to use on farms, and how this compares to other farms can be answered by using the Wageningen website to calculate the antibiotic use on farms. […]  OTHER NEWS New technologies offer new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for disease control: OIEThe animal health sector has the opportunity, not only to be a part of this technological revolution, but also to guide the appropriate application of these rapid advances in genetic engineering and computer science. […] Czech bird smugglers caught in Austria, one bird had lethal virusJune 12, 2013. The Vienna airport authorities on Thursday detained a Czech couple smuggling about 60 parrots and paradise birds from Asia, the Austrian press agency APA reported, adding that one of the birds that died during the transport contained H5N1, a bird flu virus transferrable to people. […] Federal officials weigh H7N9 vaccine options: USJun 11, 2013. Intensive federal deliberations are under way on whether to stockpile a vaccine against the H7N9 flu virus that emerged this spring in China, similar to the government's response to the H5N1 avian flu threat. […] WHO proposes new pandemic flu alert levelsJun 10, 2013. The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a new pandemic alert system, one that's designed to focus more on disease risk than geographic spread and to streamline communications to the public. […] CDC: Reserve H7N9 testing for severely ill patientsJun 10, 2013. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently modified its advice for testing patients for suspected novel H7N9 influenza infections, suggesting that clinicians test only patients who have illnesses that require hospitalization. […] Surveillance and vaccine strategies suggested by studies showing how bird flu viruses could adapt to humansJun 10, 2013. Two studies published by Cell Press in the journal Cell identify mutations that increase the infectivity of H5N1 and H7N9 viruses through improved binding to receptors in the human respiratory tract. […] OIE meeting congratulates China on bird flu response June 4, 2013. China’s efforts at controlling the H7N9 avian influenza (AI) outbreak were celebrated by delegates at the 81st General Session of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which took place in Paris on 28 May. […] A mix of water, DNA, and gold particles could lead to faster detection of infectious diseasesJune 2, 2013. A "cocktail" of a drop of blood, a dribble of water, and a dose of DNA powder with gold particles may lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment of many infectious diseases in the near future. […] Faster disease diagnosis with new single virus detection techniquesJune 2, 2013. Two independent teams have developed new optics-based methods for determining the exact viral load of a sample by counting individual virus particles that are faster and cheaper than standard tests. […] Dutch authorities to cull poultry after avian influenza outbreakJune 1, 2013. Health authorities will cull 11, 000 chickens at a farm in the Netherlands after an outbreak of a mild form of avian influenza, the Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry said on Saturday. […] OIE upgrades BSE-risk status for the United StatesMay 29, 2013. The Scientific Commission of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced the anticipated recognition of the United States as having “negligible risk” for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) from the previous status of “controlled risk” country. […] Experts call for increased monitoring of drug resistant bird fluMay 29, 2013. Drug resistance was detected in more than half of human H5N1 viruses in a new study published in the journal Antiviral Research, causing experts to call for increased monitoring of the bird flu. […] Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 fluMay 29, 2013. Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. […] New flu strains prompt review of current research, call to redouble flu fightMay 29, 2013. In light of present toll of flu infections and emergence of new flu viruses, researchers have published a comprehensive overview of current flu research and efforts to combat this potentially lethal disease, including global surveillance to track the flu and vaccines and antiviral drugs currently in use.[…]  Four year old boy’s case suggests virus immunityA 4 year old boy in Beijing confirmed as H7N9 flu virus carrier who has not yet shown symptoms may be an indication that some people are immune to the disease, according to Chines health officials. […] Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in AfricaLeptospirosis has been identified among banded mongoose in Botswana, posing the newest public health threat in Africa. […] Pathogen turns protein into a virulence factor in one easy stepTo infect its host, the respiratory pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa takes an ordinary protein usually involved in making other proteins and adds three small molecules to turn it into a key for gaining access to human cells. […]  ANNOUNCEMENTS Summer PHI 2013 CoursesSchool of Public Health, University of Minnesota offers a course for everyone practicing in or studying public health or fields related to public health. [...] Financial support award for a student to attend RITAARC is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from students for financial support to attend the 24th annual Rabies in the Americas (RITA) meeting. Deadline July 12th 2013 […] John Gamgee Award 2013 for outstanding contributions to veterinary science and the veterinary professionIn the light of the 150 years of World Veterinary Congresses and 30 years after the last time that this award was given, the fourth John Gamgee Award will be given to the selected veterinarian in the WVA 150 Anniversary celebration during WVC 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic, 17-20 September 2013. […]

EVENTS

June 20-22, 2013. 5th International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods of Pet Population Control, Oregon, US […] June 28, 2013. One Health Approach: Risk management for Neurocysticercosis, Pretoria, South Africa […] August 14-17, 2013.  Second International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI):  One Health for Sustainable Development[…] August 25-29, 2013. AITVM 2013 International conference "The livestock-human-wildlife interface” Challenges in urban livestock production and extensive farming/conservation systems […] September 2-6, 2013. 13th Australasia/Oceania CVA Conference at Nadi, Fiji[…] September 10-13, 2013. 8th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health […] September 17-20, 2013. World Veterinary Congress, Prague, Czech Republic[…] September 25-28, 2013. 9th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition, Harare, Zimbabwe […] September 2013. International Symposium on problems of Listeriosis, Goa, India […] December 4-6, 2013. OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Education and the Role of Veterinary Statutory Body, Foz do Iguazu, Brazil […]

PUBLICATIONS

1. AGA e-newsletter. To receive regular updates by email on all issues relating FAO's work on animal production and health, subscribe to the AGA e-newsletter. It contains information on upcoming events, publications, programme activities, articles and press releases [Click here to subscribe] 2. FAOAIDEnews 84 […] 3. EMPRES Transboundary Animal Diseases Bulletin No. 41 – 2012 […] 4. EMPRES Watch 28 […] 5. FAO Animal Production and Health Division e-newsletter 60 […] 6. OIE One Health Bulletin No. 2013-1 […] 7. WHO Risk Assessment: Human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, 7 June 2013 […]  8. WHO:  Pandemic Influenza Risk Management WHO Interim Guidance […] 9. Influenza at the human-animal interface 10. Human H5N1 influenza infections in Cambodia 2005--2011: case series and cost-of-illness […] 11. Deaths Associated with Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus in China […] 12. Serologic Study for Influenza A (H7N9) among High-Risk Groups in China[…] 13. Population-level antibody estimates to novel influenza A/H7N9 […] 14. Homeland Security: An overall strategy is needed to strengthen disease surveillance in livestock and poultry […] 15. Live-Animal Markets and Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection […] 16. Introducing the Outbreak Threshold in Epidemiology […] 17. Social determinants that lead to poor knowledge about and inappropriate precautionary practices towards avian influenza among butchers in Kathmandu, Nepal […] 18. Social network analysis of wild chimpanzees provides insights for predicting infectious disease risk […] 19. Replication and Transcription Activities of Ribonucleoprotein Complexes Reconstituted from Avian H5N1, H1N1pdm09 and H3N2 Influenza A Viruses […] 20. Susceptibility and pathogenesis of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) to heterologous and homologous rabies viruses […] 21. A sero-epidemiological survey of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever among Cattle in North Kordufan State, Sudan […] 22. Serological Survey of Veterinarians to Assess the Zoonotic Potential of Three Emerging Swine Diseases in Mexico […]

TRAINING

Online MSc in One Health (Infectious Diseases)The unique Master's level course, delivered jointly by the RVC and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will be available through both full and part-time study as MSc and diploma. […] PhD in EpidemiologyThere is an opportunity for a 3-year full-time PhD programme on Swine Influenza modelling in pig farms for a French speaking student. The student will be registered in Rennes University. The scholarship will commence in October 2013. For further information please contact, on an informal basis, Nicolas Rose, phone number: +33 296 016 441, email: nicolas.rose@anses.fr EpiVille, the E-learning in EpidemiologyEpiville, a learning tool developed specifically for Principles of Epidemiology (P6400), is a set of interactive web-based exercises created by faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and produced by the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning at Columbia University […] Masters, Diploma courses and Training modulesCIDRAD, France offers reaching and training in 4 masters and 1 ESC and 14 modules at Campus International Baillarguet, Montpellier, France. Most of the courses are in French. […] Veterinary Public Health Management Postgraduate Program at the University of SydneyVeterinary Public Health Management (VPHMgt) is a distance postgraduate program, delivered online with short residential sessions, directed towards career enhancement for animal health professionals. […] MSc in Meat Science & TechnologyThis 12 month taught Masters Course run by the University Of Bristol (UK) embraces a wide range of Sensory science and health and nutrition […] Master of Preventive Veterinary MedicineThe school of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California offers a professional degree, the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) […] Cambridge online e-learning institute Online Certificate in Animal Welfare […] University of MinnesotaEngaging Intergovernmental Organisations 2013 is a week long intensive preofessional development programme for mid and senior level government officials [...]

EMPLOYMENT

ILRI: Livestock Specialist New Delhi, India; closing 16 June 2013 […] ILRI: Post-Doctoral Scientist – Livestock Feeds, West Africa; closing 21 June 2013 […] ILRI: Scientist Systems Analysis, Ethiopia; closing 21 June,  2013 […] ILRI: Diagnostic Assay Development Specialist; closing date 21 June 2013 […] ILRI: Scientist Livelihoods and Multi-Stakeholder Processes, Ethiopia; closing 30 June 2013 […] University of Sao Paulo: Professor, Zoonoses – Veterinary Public Health […]