AnimalNet Dec. 21/07
If Ron Paul
can bring in $6 million in a weekend, can't iFSN?
UK: IAH
claims proof that two FMD outbreaks were linked
UK pushes to
regain meat exports outside EU
JAPAN
confirms 34th case of mad cow disease
SASKATCHEWAN:
Poultry farmer pleads for help
RUSSIA: Third
B2B outbreak in Rostov region
WASHINGTON:
Tyson finds a label for its antibiotic-free (well, almost)
chicken
Fisheries and
aquaculture recovery three years after the ASIAN tsunami
Zoonotic
infections in EUROPE: trends and figures - a summary of the
EFSA-ECDC annual report
BRITONS buy
$200 turkeys as bird flu shrinks Christmas supplies
UK:
Bluetongue reprieve?
WEST VIRGINA:
More cases of wasting disease in deer
Organic
dairies test supply of feed
TEXAS: PETA
urges investigation of antelope deaths at Lufkin zoo
GUELPH:
Editorial: Chickens can be slaughtered humanely
South
Carolina: Monks to Stop Egg Business
Japan decides
to suspend hunting precious humpbacks
Proposed
CERCLA/EPCRA administrative reporting exemption for air
releases of hazardous substances from animal waste
Viruses,
serums, toxins, and analogous products; standard
requirements for live vaccines
how to
subscribe
If Ron Paul
can bring in $6 million in a weekend, can't iFSN?
21.dec.07
International Food Safety Network
Doug Powell
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/2007/12/articles/food-safety-communication/if-ron-paul-can-bring-in-6-million-in-a-weekend-cant-ifsn/index.html
Last Sunday, U.S. Republican presidential candidate and
raw-milk darling Ron Paul, set a new record for a
presidential candidate in either party, hauling in more than
$6 million online.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17332414&ft=1&f=1014
In the new New Republic, msnbc host Tucker Carlson, in the
appropriately titled, On the road with Ron Paul's merry band
of misfits and his hooker fan club, writes,
"that Paul, who is small and delicate and has a high voice,
spoke in a near monotone, making no effort to excite the
audience. They cheered anyway. Then he said this: 'The
Constitution gives no authority for a central bank.'
"The crowd went wild, or as wild as a group of sober
Republicans can on a Monday night. They hooted and yelled
and stomped their feet. Paul stopped speaking for a moment,
his words drowned out. Then he continued on about monetary
policy.
"Paul never outshines his message, which is unchanging: Let
adults make their own choices; liberty works. For a unified
theory of everything, it's pretty simple. "And Paul
sincerely believes it.
"Most Republicans, of course, profess to believe it too. But
only Paul has introduced a bill to legalize unpasteurized
milk. Give yourself five minutes and see if you can think of
a more countercultural idea than that. Most people assume
that the whole reason we have a government is to make sure
the milk gets pasteurized. It takes some stones to argue
otherwise, especially if nobody's paying you to do it. (The
raw-milk lobby basically consists of about eight goat-
cheese enthusiasts in Manhattan, and possibly the Amish.)
"Paul is pro-choice on pasteurization entirely for reasons
of principle. "I support the right of people to drink
whatever they want," he says. He mocks the idea that 'only
government can make sure we're safe, so we need the
government to protect us. I don't think we'd all die of
unsafe food if we didn't have the FDA. Someone else would do
it.'"
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=83665295-1de6-4571-af9c-0a90f6d1fde0
Hey, I'm all for libertarianism. But what about the kids
that get sick?
From 1998 to 2005, a total of 45 outbreaks of foodborne
illness were reported to CDC in which unpasteurized milk (or
cheese suspected to have been made from unpasteurized milk)
was implicated. These outbreaks accounted for 1,007
illnesses, 104 hospitalizations, and two deaths.
Because not all cases of foodborne illness are recognized
and reported, the actual number of illnesses associated with
unpasteurized milk likely is greater.
A table of the outbreaks is available at
http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu/articles/1138/RawMilkOutbreakTable.pdf
Yes, lots of foods make people sick. And people should be
free to choose what they ingest.
The 19th century English utilitarian philosopher, John
Stuart Mill, noted that choice has limits, stating, "if it
[in this case the consumption of raw unpasteurized milk]
only directly affects the person undertaking the action,
then society has no right to intervene, even if it feels the
actor is harming himself."
Excused from Mill’s libertarian principle are those people
who are incapable of self-government – children.
Science can be used to enhance what nature provided.
Further, society has a responsibility to the many --
philosopher Mill also articulated how the needs of the many
outweighed the needs of the one — to use knowledge to
minimize harm.
Adults, do whatever you think works to ensure a natural and
healthy lifestyle, but please, don't impose your dietary
regimes on those incapable of protecting themselves: your
kids.
And support the International Food Safety Network.
Give large. Give small. It's all on-line at
https://one.found.ksu.edu/ccon/new_gift.do?action=newGift&CCN_FUND_ID=3894&SCENARIO=SELECTFUND
Any problems, just e-mail me, dpowell@ksu.edu.
And if you benefit from our services, then we're continuing
with our payment model that alt.music darlings Radiohead
stole from us: pay what you want. If there's that much money
for Ron Paul, there's some for safe food.
UK: IAH
claims proof that two FMD outbreaks were linked
21.dec.07
The Farmers Guardian
http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=15208&c=1
THE Institute of Animal Health (IAH) has, according to this
story, insisted it has scientific proof the August and
September foot-and-mouth outbreaks were linked.
It wants to quash suggestions that the second phase,
comprising six outbreaks, may have originated directly from
Pirbright, in a separate incident to the August outbreak.
The IAH was cited as saying it passed data, based on genetic
sequencing, proving its case to Defra back in the autumn.
But it is frustrated the Department has not ruled out the
possibility of a second instance of transmission from
Pirbright, despite the evidence.
The institute issued a statement after reports claiming the
Anderson inquiry into the foot-and-mouth outbreak was told
contractors sold topsoil from Pirbright that may have been
infected with the virus. It has been suggested this caused
the first case of the second wave of infection at a farm at
Virginia Water, in Surrey, known as Infected Premises (IP)
5.
IAH was cited as saying this is impossible. By studying the
genetic fingerprints of the virus recovered from the
different infected premises, IAH scientists have been able
to determine the probable sequence of transmission between
the eight IPs.
IAH director Martin Shirley was cited as saying data showed
‘rather elegantly and definitively that there was a single
chain of transmission of this virus’, adding, “The viruses
found in the Virginia Water area were derived from the
earlier infected premises in Normandy, Surrey, and not from
a re-introduction from the Pirbright site.”
While IP5 was the third farm in the second wave of
outbreaks, the data shows the infection was ‘derived’ from
the Normandy outbreaks and ‘gave rise to’ five further
outbreaks in the area, he was quoted as saying.
Commenting on claims infected soil was sold from the site,
he was quoted as saying: “As far as IAH is aware, no topsoil
was lifted from any area where contamination might have been
a possibility.”
Professor Shirley was cited as saying soil had been removed
from the site, but from areas where ‘no virus-related work
had been done’.
A Defra spokeswoman was cited as saying the Department
‘agreed with’ the IAH study and that infection from IP1 and
IP2 was considered the ‘most likely’ means of transmission
to IP5.
The ‘only other possible source’ she said, was that it came
from Pirbright on lorries. This had ‘not been ruled out’.
Investigations into the source of infection at IP5 are
ongoing. But the most recent Defra epidemiology report on
the outbreak, published in October, said: “The only
potential link that has been identified suggests fomite
transmission from the Pirbright site through lorry and
personnel movements.”
It said investigations had shown a site close to IP5 was
used for parking and as a landfill by contractors who had
worked at Pirbright and there was evidence of ‘personal
contact between IP5 and this site’.
UK pushes to
regain meat exports outside EU
21.dec.07
The Pig Site
http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/16658/uk-pushes-to-regain-meat-exports-outside-eu
UK -- Work, according to this story, started this week to
regain export markets worth £70 million a year to the UK,
lost because of bans imposed during the foot and mouth
disease outbreak.
British Pig Executive
A joint programme targeting 24 countries has been drawn up
by the British Pig Executive (BPEX), the English Beef and
Lamb Executive (EBLEX) and DEFRA.
A huge programme of work to regain lost ground is ready to
roll out. BPEX and EBLEX Export Manager Jean-Pierre Garnier
was quoted as saying "We are launching a concerted and
ambitious Third Countries export recovery programme in key
markets.
"The objective is to reinstate as soon as possible lost
health certification in Third Countries due to the Foot and
Mouth Disease outbreak and recover lost exports."
The campaign gained momentum earlier this week with a
meeting with agricultural attachés from 14 countries to pave
the way for the missions and the re-certification process.
JAPAN
confirms 34th case of mad cow disease
21.dec.07
Xinhua News Agency (China)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/21/content_7290974.htm
The Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry
was cited as saying in this story on Friday that a cow in
northern Japan's Hokkaido had been tested positive for mad
cow disease.
It was the 34th case of mad cow disease confirmed so far in
the country.
According to the ministry's press release, the 15-year-old
cow was born in western Japan's Shimane Prefecture and was
raised in Hokkaido. After it was killed on Wednesday, the
beef was tested positive for mad cow disease during check-up
by a local meat inspection institution.
SASKATCHEWAN:
Poultry farmer pleads for help
21.dec.07
Regina Leader-Post
Angela Hall
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=00e693ce-f12f-40fc-8e32-8e288287a778
A Saskatchewan poultry farmer whose operation was hit by
avian influenza has, according to this story, approached the
legislature to push his argument that governments should
help pay for the costs associated with cleaning up.
The province's agriculture minister, however, was cited as
saying that he could offer little help beyond talking with
Ottawa about the situation.
"No. 1, we don't feel that this is a provincial
responsibility," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud was
quoted as saying after question period.
Bjornerud was cited as saying it is the federal Canadian
Food Inspection Agency that primarily responds to an
outbreak of avian influenza and provides compensation
related to the value of the birds that are destroyed.
As for the cleaning and disinfecting that's required once
the birds have been disposed of, the minister pointed to the
2004 outbreak in British Columbia where it was the poultry
industry that helped foot those bills.
The story goes on to say that farmer James Glen said he
would like both levels of government to contribute to help
cover the hefty costs associated with disinfecting in the
aftermath of avian influenza.
About 50,000 birds were euthanized and then disposed of
under the watch of CFIA after the virus was found in
September at the Regina Beach area Pedigree Poultry.
However, the cleanup and disinfection job fell to the
affected farmers.
Glen said that the $100,000 in aid pledged by the local
poultry industry will help, but he has estimated costs could
total well over $200,000.
Glen was quoted as saying "(Governments) benefit from a
quick clean and disinfect so we'd like them to participate
in the process ... and as well setting up some protocol for
the industry to be prepared for it should it happen again."
RUSSIA: Third
B2B outbreak in Rostov region
20.dec.07
H5N1 Blog
http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/2007/12/russia-third-b2.html
A third outbreak of bird flu has, according to this story,
been registered in the Rostov region, the regional
emergencies department said on Thursday.
According to laboratory tests, several dozens of birds died
from the virus in a private backyard in the village of
Shosseiny, Zernograd district.
All birds in the backyard were culled. Quarantine
checkpoints were created in the village.
The story goes on to say that the bird flu virus was
registered in two villages of the Rostov region. Around
500,000 birds were culled at a poultry farm of the village
of Gulyai Borisova. In the village of Sladkaya Balka all
poultry was culled and burnt at a private backyard, where
two dead birds had been found. The quarantine was imposed in
Sladkaya Balka, too.
Experts say the source of the virus is migration birds.
WASHINGTON:
Tyson finds a label for its antibiotic-free (well, almost)
chicken
21.dec.07
New York Times
Andrew Martin
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/21food.html?ref=business
Tyson Foods ran into an unusual snag after it introduced a
marketing campaign to promote its “raised without
antibiotics” chicken. The story says that the Department of
Agriculture initially approved the label, but later said it
had made a mistake.
Now Tyson has come up with a new label that has satisfied
federal regulators. It will read, “Chicken Raised Without
Antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans.”
Tyson will phase in the new labels over the next several
months.
Agriculture officials said they changed their minds about
the first label when they realized that Tyson was feeding
its chickens animal medications called ionophores, which the
agency considers antibiotics.
Tyson officials were cited as saying they would continue to
use ionophores, which they note are approved by the federal
government as a safe feed ingredient to prevent intestinal
illness in chickens. The company said ionophores do not spur
bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics used to treat
human disease.
Fisheries and
aquaculture recovery three years after the ASIAN tsunami
20.dec.07
FAO
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000735/index.html
The Asian tsunami of 26 December 2004 killed nearly 300 000
people and devastated the livelihoods of millions more, many
of them poor fishers and fish farmers. Indeed, fisheries and
aquaculture were the hardest-hit sectors, with large numbers
of boats, fishing gear, aquaculture ponds and support
installations damaged or destroyed.
FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department has played a
leading role in helping fishers and fish farmers in the
region get back on their feet, building and repairing boats,
providing replacement fishing gear, and clearing and
rehabilitating damaged fish farms.
Now, as the immediate impact of the disaster is fading, the
UN agency remains engaged in affected countries, helping
fishing communities and national authorities transition from
short-term recovery to looking at long-term issues like
fisheries resources management, safety at sea and
sustainable development.
A new phase of rehabilitation
"Now that many fishers and aquaculturists are back to work,
we're trying to address the underlying vulnerability and
unsustainability of their livelihoods that characterized
many areas prior to the tsunami," says Lahsen Ababouch of
FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, who coordinates
the agency's post-tsunami assistance in the areas of
fisheries and aquaculture.
"This means doing things better. For example, working with
national authorities we've helped establish boat
construction standards appropriate to local conditions,
published construction manuals, and have helped train
boatbuilders in best practices. New boats will last longer
and be safer," he explains.
"In a similar vein, we're working with governments and
communities to provide training and technical advice that
will strengthen their capacity to better manage fisheries
and aquaculture and plan their future development."
Noting that FAO has provided a good deal of material
assistance, Ababouch argues that the UN agency's most
valuable contribution to tsunami rehabilitation is in the
area of providing technical training and policy advice,
rather than in delivering goods and making repairs. "Think
of the first as software and the second as hardware," he
says. "It's the software that makes everything else work."
Assisting tsunami affected countries with this “software
assistance”, through commissioning institutional reviews and
capacity assessments of fisheries management institutions in
India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives, is one of the
core tasks of FAO's “Coordination and Technical Support Unit
(CTSU) to Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in
Fisheries and Aquaculture”, established through Swedish
funding in 2006 . The objective of the CTSU is to establish
sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities and reduce
their vulnerability to future natural disasters.
The CTSU will continue to provide this type of assistance
well into 2008, as countries recognize capacity building
needs and strive to implement improved strategies for
resources management. To this effect the CTSU also lends
support through the design of targeted, country-specific or
regional cooperation projects for longer-term recovery and
sustainable development.
From disaster relief to sustainable development
In Sri Lanka, the tsunami affected 1 300 km of coastline and
damaged or destroyed 75 percent of the country’s fishing
fleet. Over 70 000 survivors had been involved in fishing or
fisheries-related activities prior to the tsunami.
FAO, with key support from the government of Italy and help
from other donors, partnered with the Sri Lankan government
to help fisherfolk cope. Efforts to repair or replace boats,
engines, and fishing gear allowed over 21 000 fishers to get
back to work.
But beyond material aid, the project moved on to promote new
sea-safety measures and improve fishing vessel stability
through awareness campaigns and providing training to
thousands of fishers. In the boatyards, builders and workers
were given both better safety equipment as well as training.
FAO also supported the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources of Sri Lanka in the preparation of a new set of
national regulations to standardize the construction of
fishing vessels and the establishment of a new government
unit responsible for certifying the safety of all new
fishing vessels constructed in the country.
Spectrum of assistance
In Aceh Province of Indonesia, around 55 percent of boats
and fishing gear were lost to the tsunami. An estimated 70
percent of brackish water fish ponds were also destroyed and
70 percent of related infrastructure, including landing
places, fish markets and small-scale traditional
boat-building facilities was severely affected.
After the disaster, generous support from a number of donors
helped FAO meet the immediate needs of affected fisherfolk
and aquaculturists. This included providing replacement
boats and equipment and rebuilding jetties so fishermen
could land their catch. For fish farmers, it involved
clearing and repairing their ponds and providing them with
fingerlings, feed and fertilizer -- and getting the
hatcheries on which aquaculturists depend to renew their
stocks back up and running.
FAO also helped those who process, transport and sell fish
get back to business by providing them with fish drying and
processing equipment, vehicles, a reliable source of ice,
coolers and new marketplaces.
"All of these activities certainly were important, but I
think 25 years from now, the work that we have been engaged
in once emergency relief tapered off will have been our
greatest contribution," says Rudolf Hermes of FAO's
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, who worked on the
ground in Banda Aceh following the tsunami.
This included coming up with a new boat design -- an
improved and safer version of the traditional wooden craft
favored in the region -- and publishing an easy-to-use
builder's manual in the local dialect that gives clear
guidance on proper construction techniques. FAO also trained
scores of boat builders in best-practices of vessel
construction and engine fitting techniques.
The UN agency also offered training and technical assistance
in a number of other areas as well, all aimed at
strengthening local capacities to sustainable manage
fisheries and aquaculture. These included: issuing
guidelines on how to rehabilitate damaged fish farms;
holding workshops for fish farmers on best management
practices; introducing hatchery operators to modern
biosafety practices and techniques; educating processors and
marketers in proper post-harvest fish handling, and; helping
district and provincial authorities with rehabilitation
planning and coordination.
Now FAO has recently partnered with the American Red Cross
to implement a three year project in Indonesia aimed at
building the capacity of national and local authorities as
well as fishers and fish farmers, to sustainable manage the
resources on which they depend.
Zoonotic
infections in EUROPE: trends and figures - a summary of the
EFSA-ECDC annual report
20.dec.07
Eurosurveillance
J Denny, F Boelaert, B Borck, OE Heuer, A Ammon, P Makela
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2007/071220.asp#4
The 2006 annual Community Summary Report from the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for
Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was released this week
with the latest trends and figures on the occurrence of
zoonotic infections and agents, antimicrobial resistance and
food-borne outbreaks in the then 25 European Union Member
States and five non-EU countries (Bulgaria, Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Romania)*. The following is a
background for the report and a summary of the principle
findings.
Background
When combined together, campylobacteriosis, VTEC and
salmonellosis were estimated by a recent pilot study to
carry a higher burden of disease in Europe than influenza
and measles, yet less of a burden than HIV and tuberculosis
[1]. Worldwide, bacterial food-borne zoonotic infections are
the most common cause of human intestinal disease, with
Salmonella and Campylobacter accounting for over 90% of all
reported cases of bacteria-related food poisonings [2]. It
is estimated that one third of populations residing in
developed countries worldwide are affected by food-borne
diseases every year, and the majority of these are thought
to be caused by zoonotic agents [3]. It is also predicted
that about 1% of the inhabitants of Europe will be infected
with Campylobacter every year [4]. For these reasons and to
comply with the “Zoonoses Directive” (Directive 2003/99/EC)
[5], EFSA together with its Zoonoses Collaboration Centre
and ECDC have produced the latest report on trends and
sources of zoonotic infections in Europe. By identifying
which animals and foodstuffs are the main sources of
infection one can prevent diseases from occurring by
improving and targeting control measures in the food
production chain.
Main zoonoses trends in 2006
Campylobacter
In 2006, as in the previous year, campylobacteriosis was the
most commonly reported zoonotic disease in humans in the EU,
with 175,561 cases, representing a small decrease in
confirmed cases from 2005. Campylobacter was most commonly
detected in fresh poultry meat where on average 35% samples
were found positive. Campylobacter was also frequently found
in live poultry, pigs and cattle.
Salmonella
Salmonellosis was the second most commonly reported zoonotic
infection in 2006, with 160,649 human cases. This represents
a statistically significant decrease in the number of cases
over the past three years. Salmonella was most commonly
found in fresh poultry and pork meat, where 5.6% and 1.0% of
samples were found positive, respectively. In animals,
Salmonella was most frequently detected in poultry flocks.
The prevalence of Salmonella in laying hens and their
breeding flocks has decreased significantly compared to the
past few years, which is thought to reflect the success of
the control measures taken in this sector. Similar trends,
however, were not observed in broilers flocks.
Yersinia and VTEC
The number of cases of Yersinia infection in humans
decreased from 9,533 in 2005 to 8,979 in 2006. In animals,
Yersinia were found mainly in pigs.
A total of 4,916 confirmed cases of VTEC were reported in
2006, compared to 3,217 in 2005, yet representing a
statistically significant and downward trend since 2004 when
4,085 cases were registered. The difference between 2005 and
2006 is mainly due to reports from the Czech Republic,
accounting for 1,558 cases or 92% of the increase. No cases
were reported by the Czech Republic in 2005. The data from
the animal sector indicated that VTEC was detected mainly in
cattle and products thereof.
Listeria
The number of cases of listeriosis increased to 1,583 in
2006 compared to 1,427 in 2005. Furthermore, the incidence
rates of this infection in Europe have shown a statistically
significant increase over the past five years. Listeriosis
is an important food-borne zoonosis due to the severity of
the disease and high mortality. It is a significant risk
factor in well-defined groups: immunocompromised
individuals, pregnant women and neonates younger than four
weeks [6]. In 2006, the average mortality rate associated
with food-borne listeriosis outbreaks was 14.2%. In 2006, as
in the past, Listeria were most commonly reported above the
legal safety limit from ready-to-eat fishery products,
followed by cheeses and other ready-to-eat products.
Trends in other zoonoses
Compared to 2005, the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis
slightly increased and that of bovine and sheep/goat
brucellosis decreased in those Member States which are not
free of these diseases. In humans 1,033 brucellosis cases
were reported mainly by the same countries where the disease
is present in animals.
Two parasitic zoonoses, trichinellosis and echinococcosis,
caused 231 and 458 human cases, respectively. In animals,
these parasites were mainly isolated from wildlife.
In 2006, no cases of rabies were reported in humans, whereas
in animals, the majority of rabies infections were found in
the Baltic states and some Eastern European countries.
Food-borne outbreaks
In 2006, a total of 5,710 food-borne outbreaks were reported
by the Member States. As in 2005, Salmonella was the most
common cause of those outbreaks. For the first time,
however, food-borne viruses were the second most frequent
cause. The number of viral outbreaks is assumed to have been
severely underreported in the previous years. The majority
of the reported food-borne Salmonella outbreaks were
associated with eggs while meat was the second most common
source.
Antibiotic resistance
A high level of Campylobacter resistance to ciprofloxacin
was observed, ranging from 30.6% to 56.7% in isolates from
poultry meat, live poultry and pigs. Ciprofloxacin is the
first-choice antibiotic in the treatment of human
campylobacteriosis, and thus high levels of resistance to
this drug may limit treatment options in humans.
The majority of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from humans
were fully sensitive to all antimicrobials tested. Compared
to 2005, the resistance to nalidixic acid, sulphonamids and
ampicillin increased to 14.8%, 8.0% and 8.1%, respectively.
The resistance to ciprofloxacin remained at low level (0.6%)
in EU. From the S. Typhimurium isolates, 39.7% were
resistant to more than four of the antimicrobials tested,
and there was an increase in resistance to sulphonamides and
streptomycin to 46.5% and 40.1%, respectively. The
resistance to ciprofloxacin in S. Typhimurium isolates was
0.7%. Nalidixic acid is an indicator for increasing
resistance to fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin),
antimicrobials regarded as critically important for
treatment of human cases.
Conclusions
The 2006 Community Zoonoses Report has again identified
Campylobacter and Salmonella as the two most common zoonotic
infections in humans in Europe. Even though they are
reported with less frequency than in years prior, they make
up the overwhelming majority of all zoonotic infections and
are believed to represent only a fraction of the true number
of cases in the EU [7]. Antimicrobial resistance,
particularly of Campylobacter to ciprofloxacin is a cause
for concern. A major foodborne source of both agents in
Europe is fresh poultry meat, while eggs still remain the
most important source for Salmonella infections. Salmonella
remains the most common cause of reported food-borne
outbreaks but viral food-borne outbreaks are on the rise.
The number of Listeria cases is also increasing, and
Listeria is most commonly found in ready-to-eat fishery
products and cheeses. Control programmes aimed at lowering
the risk of zoonotic infections have proven successful in
the past [2], yet this report demonstrates that there is
still room for improvement. Indicating the main sources of
zoonotic infections in Europe, helps to identify areas where
control measures in the food production chain should be
applied.
* 25 EU MS and five non-EU countries reported human data for
Salmonella, yet fewer reported for other zoonoses and animal
data (i.e. 21 EU and four non-EU MS for Campylobacter and 22
EU and four non-EU MS for VTEC in humans). Most countries
have now provided human data on most zoonoses for the past
five years thereby affording an opportunity to perform trend
analyses.
BRITONS buy
$200 turkeys as bird flu shrinks Christmas supplies
19.dec.07
Bloomberg
Brian Lysaght
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aErYjTdC6ZD4&refer=exclusive
The 1,800 turkeys on Sheepdrove Farm in Britain's Berkshire
Downs spent the summer and autumn feasting on grubs and
wheat and roaming through meadows.
This story says that this month, these Norfolk Bronze birds
with dark plumes and scarlet beaks were being slaughtered,
hand-plucked and hung for 14 days on the 2,500-acre organic
farm 60 miles west of London. It's the end of their rural
idyll and the first step toward a hallowed British holiday
tradition -- Christmas Day lunch.
Organic farms such as Sheepdrove are flourishing after one
of the toughest-ever years for Britain's poultry industry.
Bird flu has pushed up holiday bird prices by as much as 38
percent and increased demand for organic turkeys, which cost
as much as 100 pounds ($205).
Sales of organic turkeys, which must be free ranging and
raised on additive-free feed, will jump 46 percent this
year, the British Retail Consortium predicts. That compares
with a 7 percent increase the industry group forecasts for
total turkey sales.
UK:
Bluetongue reprieve?
21.dec.07
Farmers Guardian
Jack Davies
http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=15206
FARMERS trapped in the bluetongue zones are, according to
this story, set for a reprieve as Defra prepares to
temporarily relax movement restrictions in place to deal
with the disease.
The news comes as Defra announced that pharmaceutical
company Intervet had been awarded the contract to supply
22.5 million doses of vaccine, providing a long-term
solution to the problem.
In the short-term, the UK looks set to be declared
‘seasonally vector-free’ over the winter while the
population of midges carrying the virus is at its least
active. It is understood that following an extensive
surveillance programme, Defra will announce the amnesty on
restrictions in the coming weeks.
Some conditions will still be placed on animal movements,
including blood testing and veterinary inspection prior to
transport.
The story goes on to say that with demand likely to outstrip
supply, Defra are currently consulting with stakeholders on
how a vaccination strategy can be put in place.
It is widely expected that the vaccine will initially be
available to farmers in the protection and surveillance
zones before being rolled out to the rest of the UK when
more becomes available.
WEST VIRGINA:
More cases of wasting disease in deer
21.dec.07
WSHV Channel 3
Associated Press
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/12583626.html
Preliminary tests show that five more deer killed in West
Virginia's Hampshire County during the fall gun season had a
chronic wasting disease.
The story says that Division of Natural Resources Director
Frank Jezioro says samples were collected from 1,285 deer
brought to game-checking stations in the county, the only
one in the state where the disease has been reported.
The findings announced Sunday bring the number of infected
deer found in Hampshire County to 19 since 2005.
Organic
dairies test supply of feed
21.dec.07
Associated Press
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - It comes as no surprise to anyone that
the number of organic farms is, according to this story,
booming to meet consumer demand for healthy food. In
Washington, a state known more for its apples than any other
crop, there are 45 organic dairies. Five years ago, there
were just two.
The challenge has been feeding all of those cows.
Acreage of organic forage, such as hay and alfalfa, has
grown 40 percent in the past two years, yet isn't keeping
pace with demand. In particular, high- protein crops like
soybeans that are necessary feed for dairy cows are in short
supply in some regions, forcing some companies to import
them from as far away as China.
Given the recent problems with food and ingredient imports
from China, in which a slew of products have been turned
away by U.S. inspectors amid claims they are tainted, one
might wonder if organic feed is actually organic.
The story goes on to say that demand for consumer organic
dairy products has grown by more than 20 percent each year,
a trend that is expected to continue at least in the near
term.
The federal government also encouraged conventional dairy
farmers to convert to organic operations by easing organic
certification to reduce feed costs. Under a federal rule,
the farmers could feed their cows 20 percent conventional
feed, which is less expensive, in the first nine months of
operation. However, the rule expires June 9, and dairies
across the country made the switch to beat the clock.
Imports from China have come under increasing scrutiny amid
a series of scandals concerning tainted or unsafe food,
medicines and other Chinese exports.
The story goes on to say that Jay Gordon, a dairy farmer and
executive director of the Washington Dairy Federation,
believes more feed crops need to be planted to meet local
demand. He grows sunflower, canola, and safflower on 700
acres in western Washington's Chehalis Valley to feed his
104 organic cows.
'There's a lot of dairies that have decided they would not
be in the business if not for organic,' Gordon was quoted as
saying, adding, 'This is a nice niche that's fit well for
dairy farming. We just have to go talk to our crop farmers.'
TEXAS: PETA
urges investigation of antelope deaths at Lufkin zoo
21.dec.07
Houston Chonicle
Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5396921.html
LUFKIN, Texas -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
has, according to this story, asked the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to investigate the deaths of five blackbuck
antelope at the city's Ellen Trout Zoo.
A zoo worker found four dead antelope and a fifth severely
injured inside their enclosure earlier this week. The fifth
one later died. Zoo officials and police were cited as
saying they believe the animals were attacked by dogs. There
were dog paw prints in the mud and a hole was dug under the
enclosure's fence.
PETA said the zoo's lack of security could be a violation of
the Animal Welfare Act.
Charlotte Henley, the zoo's educational director, was cited
as saying that PETA "cannot be any more concerned about our
animals than we are." adding, "We had an inspection less
than a month ago and we had a clean report."
GUELPH:
Editorial: Chickens can be slaughtered humanely
21.dec.07
Guelph Mercury
Michael Hayward of Scarborough writes Re: "Teen protester
ruffles feathers" (Guelph Mercury, Dec. 15).
Congratulations to Michelle Hilborn for having the courage
of her convictions in her protest of Kentucky Fried Chicken
(KFC).
There is a reasonably humane method of slaughtering chickens
called controlled atmosphere killing.
Using this method, chickens are killed while still in their
transport hampers by an inert gas approved by the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency. This process would guarantee that
when chickens enter the scalding-hot feather removal tank
that they are in fact dead.
Considering a chicken's life has been far from a picnic up
to that point, the least a caring consumer should demand is
that the slaughter is performed as humanely as possible.
--
Heather Moore of PETA in Norfolk, VA, writes in this letter
in response to the wonderful article about Michelle Hilborn,
the compassionate 16-year-old who recently protested at KFC
in Guelph -- chicken farming regulations are completely
voluntary in Canada, there are no federal guidelines
protecting chickens from cruelty.
South
Carolina: Monks to Stop Egg Business
21.dec.07
Associated Press
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/us/21brfs-MONKSTOSTOPE_BRF.html
A monastery in Moncks Corner will, according to this story,
halt its egg farming business after claims by People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals that the Trappist monks
mistreated hens. The Rev. Stan Gumula of Mepkin Abbey was
cited as saying in a statement late Wednesday that pressure
from PETA made it difficult for the monks to live a quiet
life of prayer, work and sacred reading. The egg farm
business will be phased out over the next 18 months,
according to the statement. Father Gumula told the National
Catholic Reporter that the abbey produced about nine million
eggs a year, and that the product was delivered to retailers
in the Charleston area. PETA began its criticism of Mepkin
Abbey in February, saying it had videotape of thousands of
hens crammed into small cages.
Japan decides
to suspend hunting precious humpbacks
21.dec.07
Xinhua News Agency (China)
Japan decides to suspend hunting precious humpbacks
TOKYO -- The Japanese government announced on Friday that it
has, according to this story, suspended humpback whaling in
response to the International Whaling Commission (IWC)'s
proposal, but insisted that the country's overall whaling
program for research is legitimate.
The decision to temporarily stop humpback whaling followed
IWC Chair William Hogarth's such appeal to Japan for
cooperation while the IWC is talking about internal reform.
"We will not change the plan to conduct research whaling
itself. But the government has decided that, as long as the
normalization process is under way, we will postpone
humpback whaling," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka
Machimura was quoted by Kyodo News as telling reporters.
Japanese whaling fleet set off in mid November for its
annual four-month mission in the Antarctic. Its original
plan to restart hunting of the famed humpback in this season
since an international moratorium regarding the species took
effect in 1966 induced fierce opposition from anti-whaling
countries and organizations.
Proposed
CERCLA/EPCRA administrative reporting exemption for air
releases of hazardous substances from animal waste
21.dec.07
From an Environmental Protection Agency press release
http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/epcra/cercla_dec07.htm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing
a rule that would provide an administrative exemption from
particular notification requirements under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (CERCLA), as amended, and the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Title III
of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. The
proposed administrative reporting exemption is limited to
releases of hazardous substances to the air where the source
of those hazardous substances is animal waste at farms.
Notifications must still be made when and if hazardous
substances are released to the air from any source other
than animal waste (e.g., ammonia tanks) at farms, as well as
releases of any hazardous substances at farms to any other
environmental media (i.e., soil, ground water, surface
water) when the release of those hazardous substances is at
or above its reportable quantity for 24 hours.
This proposed rule would reduce the burden on the regulated
community of complying with CERCLA and EPCRA reporting
requirements. In fact, EPA is proposing that these reports
are unnecessary because there is no reasonable expectation
that Federal, state or local emergency responders would
respond to such report(s).
EPA is also seeking public comment on the usefulness of
emergency release notification and written follow-up
emergency notices that are submitted to State Emergency
Response Commissions (SERCs) and local emergency planning
committees (LEPCs) when there is a release to the air from
animal waste at farms of any hazardous substance at or above
the reportable quantity for those hazardous substances.
Comments on this proposed rule are due 90 days after
publication in the Federal Register.
Viruses,
serums, toxins, and analogous products; standard
requirements for live vaccines
December 21, 2007
[Federal Register: (Volume 72, Number 245)]
[DOCID:fr21de07-1]
[Page 72563-72564]
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-24649.htm
SUMMARY: We are amending the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act
regulations for
certain live bacterial and viral vaccines by removing the
requirement
to retest the Master Seeds for immunogenicity 3 years after
the initial
qualifying immunogenicity test. In addition, we are amending
the
requirement concerning mouse safety tests prescribed for a
biological
product recommended for animals other than poultry. These
changes
update the standard requirements by eliminating unnecessary
testing of
Master Seed bacteria and viruses and other forms of bulk or
completed
biological product.
DATES: Effective Date: January 22, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Albert P. Morgan, Chief
Staff
Officer, Operational Support Section, Center for Veterinary
Biologics,
Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River
Road, Unit
148, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228; (301) 734-8245.
Animalnet is produced by
the International Food Safety Network at Kansas State
University, and is supported at the Gold Fork level by:
Marler-Clark.
Animalnet is supported at the Sterling Fork level by:
Monsanto Canada, CropLife Canada, National Restaurant
Association, Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Animalnet is supported at the Silver-plate Fork level by:
National Pork Board, Canadian Animal Health Institute,
Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Ontario Farm Animal
Council, Pritzker Ruohonen Law Firm, Casco Inc., Sholl
Group/Green Giant Fresh, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies,
American Air Liquide, Feedlot Health Management Services,
University of Florida Pesticide Office, and Canadian
Institute of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario Branch) Inc.
Animalnet is supported at the Stainless Fork level by:
Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Gorton¹s Inc., National
Turkey Federation, International Association for Food
Protection, American Dairy Queen Corporation, New Science
Management, University of Oklahoma, Oregon State University
Department of Forest Science, City of Vernon, CA, and
Nutrition Action Healthletter, Center for Science in the
Public Interest.
The Food Safety Network presents a unique opportunity to
bring together all those associated with agriculture and
food, to enhance the safety of the food supply. To provide
financial support to the Food Safety Network, please visit
http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu/en/donations.php. For
information on collaboration or fee-for-service
opportunities, please contact Dr. Doug Powell:
dpowell@ksu.edu
To subscribe to the html version of AnimalNet, send mail to:
(subscription is free)
listserv@listserv.ksu.edu
leave subject line blank
in the body of the message type:
subscribe animalnet firstname lastname
i.e. subscribe animalnet Doug Powell
(replace animalnet with annettext to subscribe to the text
version)
To unsubscribe to AnimalNet, send mail to:
listserv@listserv.ksu.edu
leave subject line blank
in the body of the message type:
signoff animalnet
(replace animalnet with annettext to unsubscribe to the text
version)
For more information about the AnimalNet research program,
please contact:
Dr. Douglas Powell
associate professor
dept. diagnostic medicine/pathobiology
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
66506
cell: 785-317-0560
fax: 785-532-4039
dpowell@ksu.edu
http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu
archived at:
http://archives.foodsafety.ksu.edu/animalnet-archives.htm
|
|