Veterinary Public Health (VPH) E-Bulletin

NEWS

ASIA (China) Human Avian Influenza H7N9 On 9 May 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 6 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including 2 deaths. [...] ASIA (Chinese Taipei) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N2 Abnormal mortalities were observed in 5 poultry farms in Yunlin County and Changhua County, and in one abattoir in Pingtung County. Samples were sent to the National Laboratory (AHRI) for diagnosis. H5N2 subtype HPAI was confirmed by AHRI. [...] AFRICA (Angola) Foot and Mouth Disease Five animals in a pen including 70 animals found with signs and lesions consistent with foot and mouth disease during routine surveillance in a population of 2, 650 animals in a village in along the border with the Republic of Namibia. [...] ASIA (Palestine) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported among backyard poultry in Jerusalem, West Bank. [...] NORTH AMERICA (USA) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N2 The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to one probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a commercial laying operation in Sioux County. [...] NORTH AMERICA (USA) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N2 An owl found dead in northeastern Wisconsin is the 1st wild bird in the state to test positive for a bird flu strain that has swept through poultry farms in the Midwest. [...] NORTH AMERICA (USA) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N2 The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to 3 probable cases and 1 confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista, Lyon, and Osceola counties. [...] AFRICA (Namibia) Foot and Mouth Disease 14 cattle out of a population of 2, 458 were found to have oral and hoof lesions suspected to be of foot and mouth disease in Ondamayanghete, Ohangwena. [...] EUROPE (Israel) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreak has been reported among 10-week-old turkeys in a farm in Bezet, Hafazon. [...] NORTH AMERICA (Mexico) Avian Influenza HPAI H7N3 Endemic wild birds were reported having been found dead in a nature reserve called in the State of Chiapas. [...] EUROPE (Turkey) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 H5N1 virus was detected in a poultry farm in Moralilar among birds in a farm. [...] ASIA (Vietnam) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported from a farm in Cai Cui, Vinh Long. [...] ASIA (Myanmar) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 Myanmar reports an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a farm located in a livestock zone that has 88 chicken layer farms and 50 quail layer farms. [...] AFRICA (Nigeria) Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 Two outbreaks were reported from Rivers and Lagos region among birds in farm and backyard respectively. [...] To view reported cases of animal diseases visit the EMPRES-I website EMPRES-i compiles animal disease events, outbreak and surveillance data (including zoonoses) from numerous sources (e.g. FAO representations, FAO reports, Technical projects, OIE reports, official governments, Regional Organizations, FAO Reference Centres and laboratories) for supporting analytic and risk assessments on threats of animal origin including emergent zoonoses. FAO also verifies disease events from additional sources including country or regional project reports, technical reports, scientific articles, partner Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), cooperating institutions, public domain sites, media search engines and web-based animal and human health surveillance systems (e.g. GPHIN, PROMED, Health Map) OTHER NEWS Plan to reform WHO after Ebola to be unveiled by Angela Merkel May 18, 2015. German chancellor hosts meeting to announce plan for disease-response department after World Health Organization’s slow Ebola operation. [...] FAO Raises The Alarm Over Depletion Of Poultry, Food Insecurity The representative of Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria has lamented the continuous devastation of poultry industry in Nigeria by avian influenza saying unless robust measures of surveillance and control are put in place, it would continue to pose a threat to food security in the country. [...] Vector-borne diseases: New infographic to celebrate World Veterinary Day May 15, 2015. In 2015, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the OIE chose to put on the front scene "vector-borne diseases with zoonotic potential". [...] Egypt: Upsurge in H5N1 human and poultry cases but no change in transmission pattern of infection May 15, 2015. The recent increase in the number of people affected by the avian influenza virus H5N1 in Egypt is not related to virus mutations but rather to more people becoming exposed to infected poultry, according to a recent mission of six organizations assessing the H5N1 situation in the country. [...] [...] Think Again: Why did Liberia beat Ebola before Guinea or Sierra Leone? Interruption of transmission is a monumental achievement for a country that reported the highest number of deaths in the largest, longest and most complex outbreak since Ebola first emerged in 1976. [...] Private hospital staff put under observation after death of CCHF patient May 14, 2015. As many as 15 staff members, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, at a private medical facility, Maroof International Hospital, have been under observation after handling a patient who died of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) here on Saturday night. [...] The OIE welcomes the publication of WHO Best Practices for the naming of new infectious diseases May 12, 2015. The OIE strongly encourages all national, regional, and international stakeholders, including scientists, national authorities, and media to follow these WHO best practices in the event of the emergence of a new disease, so that inappropriate disease names are not created and the public is better served and informed. [...] Badung Regency in Bali Runs Out of Anti-Rabies Vaccine Due May 10, 2015. NusaBali reports that supplies of anti-rabies vaccine for human victims of dog bites is out of stock in the Badung regency of South Bali. [...] Signs of airborne H5N2 found May 8, 2015. Evidence of the H5N2 avian influenza virus has been found in air samples collected in and near infected Minnesota poultry barns, a researcher said today, supporting the suspicion that the virus may go airborne for short distances.[...] ANNOUNCEMENT Workshop on Surveillance and Control of Rabies EVOCA PhD applications CHRO 2015 - Call for abstracts CHRO 2015, the 18th International Conference on Campylobacter, Helicobacter  and related organisms to be conducted at Rotorua from November 1-5, 2015 invites abstracts and the closing date is 30th April 2015. [...] Third International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) - Call for abstracts Abstracts are invited for the Congress and the deadline is April 15, 2015. [...] EPIZONE - 9th annual meeting The 9th Annual meeting EPIZONE will be combined with the Xth International Conference of ESVV 2015, "Changing viruses in a Changing world", 31 August - 3 September 2015. [...] Nor-Feed Sud launches the "Nor-Feed Veterinary Award" Nor-Feed Sud, a French company specialized in the production of plants-based natural additives for animal nutrition, created the Nor-Feed Award, endowed with 5.000 Euro, and open to young scientists from around the world. [...] International Journal of One Health - Call for papers International Journal of One Health publishes papers focusing on One Health (Human, Animal and Environmental health). Please send pre-submission queries toeditoronehealth@gmail.com.  Submit the manuscript online at [...] The African Veterinary Information Portal (AfriVIP) The African Veterinary Information Portal partners have recognised the need to share its educational knowledge and resources and research findings with veterinary and para-veterinary professionals and students and other stakeholders and to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training opportunities. [...]

EVENTS

May 5, 2015. Health and Species Protection: Converging or diverging objectives? European Commission, Brussels [...] May 21-22, 2015. WVA/WMA Global Conference on One Health, Madrid, Spain [...] June 2-3, 2015. How do we deal with the threat of antimicrobial resistance? Uppsala Health Summit in Uppsala, Sweden [...] June 7-10, 2015. Symposium on Emerging infections, Hanasaari Congress Centre, Helsinki, Finland [...] June 30-July 2, 2015. OIE Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction, Paris, France [...] August 6-8, 2015. Third International Congress on Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI): One health for Sustainable Development, Chiang Mai, Thailand[...] August 25-27, 2015. International Conference on Parasitology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA [...] September 13-17, 2015. 32nd World Veterinary Congress, Istanbul, Turkey [...] September 23-26, 2015. Central European Symposium on Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance (CESAR 2015) Šibenik, Croatia [...] October 4-7, 2015. 58th International Meat Industry Conference Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology - Belgrade, Serbia [...] October 4-7, 2015. 3rd GRF One Health Summit 2015, Davos, Switzerland [...] November 1-5, 2015. CHRO 2015 (International workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and related organisms), Rotorua, New Zealand [...] November 2-7, 2015. ISVEE 14 Veterinary Epidemiology & Economics: Planning our future, Yucatan, Mexico [...]

PUBLICATIONS

1. FAO: 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. FAO: EMPRES 360 Animal Health No. 45 [...] 4. FAO: EMPRES Watch Vol 32 - April 2015: H5N1 HPAI spread in Nigeria and increased risk for neighbouring countries in West Africa [...] 5. FAO: ECTAD-RAP News May-Jun 2013 [...] 6. FAO Animal Production and Health Division e-newsletter 110 [...] 7. FAO Animal Production and Health Report No. 8 Poultry Sector Nepal [...] 8. FAO Animal Production and Health Manual 17 [...] 9. FAO focus on burden of brucellosis in endemic countries [...] 10. FAO Statistical Yearbook 2013 [...] 11. FAO ECTAD Vietnam Newsletter Mar-Aug 2014 [...] 12. FAO ECTAD China Highlights Vol 71 November 2014 [...] 13. FAO: Addressing avian influenza A (H7N9) Qualitative risk assessment update Issue no. 2 [...] 14. FAO: Addressing Zaire Ebola virus (EBV) outbreaks - Rapid qualitative exposure and release assessment [...] A New Normal For Antibiotics in Livestock Production [...] Controlling the Last Known Cluster of Ebola Virus Disease-Liberia, January-February 2015 [...] Dose-Response Relationship between Antimicrobial Drugs and Livestock-Associated MRSA in Pig Farming [...] Development of Disease-specific, Context-specific Surveillance Models: Avian Influenza (H5N1)-Related Risks and Behaviours in African Countries [...] Ebola Risk Perception in Germany, 2014 [...] European Rabbits as Reservoir for Coxiella burnetii [...] Genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone [...] Induction of Influenza (H5N8) Antibodies by Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara H5N1 Vaccine [...] Lack of Protection Against Ebola Virus from Chloroquine in Mice and Hamsters [...] Mycobacterium bovis in Panama, 2013 [...] OIE Bulletin 2015: Food Safety [...] Pathogenicity of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Naturally Infected Poultry in Egypt [...] Preliminary Incidence and Trends of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food - Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2006-2014 [...] Rapid Risk Assessment: Outbreak of Ebola Virus disease in West Africa - 11th update[...] UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) External Situation Report 15 May 2015 [...] Susceptibility to and transmission of H5N1 and H7N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) [...] WHO/FAO/OIE/US-CDC/US-NAMRU-3/UNICEF: Joint high-level mission on the current H5N1 situation in Egypt, 8-12 March 2015 [...] WHO: Ebola Situation Reports - May 18, 2015 [...]

TRAINING

Ebola in Context: Understanding Transmission, Response and Control This two-week free course looks at the science behind the Ebola outbreak, to understand why it has occurred on this scale and how it can be controlled. [...] E-learning course on bioinformatics in animal viral pathogens [...] The Vicious Worm: a cysticercosis advocacy information tool [...] Columbia Regional Learning Center Online Courses PREP 1101 Fundamentals of Emergency Preparedness [...] EPI 2408 Surveillance and Forecasting of Emerging Infectious Diseases [...] PREP 2103 The Home Health Care Workforce: Essential Community Partners in Preventing Transmission of Viral Respiratory Illness: Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic Influenza [...] E-Learning Course on Avian Influenza The FLUTRAIN team has developed this e-learning course to support veterinary administrations in training newly recruited staff involved in avian influenza prevention, diagnosis and control activities. [...] AgreenSkills` Post-doctoral Research Fellowships AgreenSkills and AgreenSkills+ are European Union co-funded fellowship programmes, accepting applications for postdoctoral fellowships from experienced young and independent postdoctoral researchers, in the fields of life, agricultural, nutrition, and environmental sciences. [...] Training at CIRAD, France CIRAD, France has announced training programs inlivestock and veterinary medicine in hot climate, specifically on animal health,  epidemiology, and animal production [...] EpiVille, the E-learning in Epidemiology Epiville, 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 [...] Cambridge online e-learning institute Online Certificate in Animal Welfare [...]

EMPLOYMENT

FAO: Project Co-ordinator (Food Safety Projects), Dhaka, Bangladesh; closing date: 20 May 2015 [...] ILRI: Regional Representative, South Asia, Delhi, India (open until filled) [...] ECDC: Field epidemiologists to join activities in Guinea [...] OIE: Project Officer for the Sub-Regional Representation for South East Asia, closing date 21 May, 2015 [...] OIE: Chargé de mission for Veterinary Medicinal Products - OIE Scientific and Technical Department; closing date 8 June 2015 [...] Biodiversity International: Bioversity Initiative Manager, closing date 30 May, 2015[...]