Click on text below to see the vid

Test EVERY Cow in the Food Chain

Test EVERY Cow in the Food Chain
Like Other Countries Do

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Egypts BSE Restrictions on US Beef Lifted, USDA Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-29/egypt-s-bse-related-restrictions-on-u-s-beef-lifted-usda-says.html

Mad Cow Breakthrough: Scientists Create Prion in Lab

http://www.naturalnews.com/001567_prions_mad_cow_disease.html

FEED RECALL / West Coast

A manufacturer has issued a voluntary recall of horse feed that was distributed in California, Nevada and Oregon because it may contain a medication that can be fatal to horses if fed at high levels.

Missouri-based MANNA PRO PRODUCTS announced Friday it is voluntarily recalling FAMILY FARM COMPLETE HORSE 10 HORSE FEED, LOT NUMBER 1006 because it may contain potentially harmful levels of the medication MONENSIN SODIUM, or RUMENSIN.

The feed was distributed January 11 through January 21 to retailers in these three states. No illnesses or deaths have been reported and retailers have removed it from their stores, but the company says customers who purchased the product should STOP FEEDING IT IMMEDIATELY.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Mad Cow Found in Netherlands

BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY - NETHERLANDS: (FRIESLAND), OIE
****************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 22 Jan 2011
Source: OIE WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database) Disease
Information 2011; 24(4) [edited]
http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=10152


Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Netherlands
---------------------------------------------
Information received on 21 Jan 2011 from Dr Christianne Bruschke,
Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food
Quality, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague,
Netherlands

Summary
Report type: Immediate notification (Final report)
Start date 04 Jan 2011
Date of 1st confirmation of the event 11 Jan 2011
Report date 21 Jan 2011
Date submitted to OIE 21 Jan 2011
Date event resolved 11 Jan 2011
Reason for notification: Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 15 Oct 2010
Manifestation of disease: Clinical disease
Causal agent: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent
Nature of diagnosis: Laboratory (basic)
This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Lippenhuizen, Friesland
Date of start of the outbreak 04 Jan 2011
Outbreak status: Resolved (11 Jan 2011)
Epidemiological unit: Farm
Species Cattle
Susceptible 119
Cases 1
Deaths 0
Destroyed 1
Slaughtered 0

Epidemiology - Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection -
Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments - Result of a monitoring sample taken at a
rendering plant. The animal was euthanized by a veterinary
practitioner. There are no animals alive belonging to the birth
cohort and the feed cohort and there are no animals alive belonging
to the off-spring younger than 2 years. This is a case of atypical
BSE (L-type).

Control measures - Measures applied: Modified stamping out; No
vaccination; No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied - No other measures

Laboratory name and type: Central Veterinary Institute (CVI)
(Regional Reference Laboratory)
Species Cattle
Test immunohistochemical test
Test date 11 Jan 2011
Result Positive

Species Cattle
Test western blotting
Test date 11 Jan 2011
Result Positive

Future reporting
The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The L type atypical BSE is one the 3 newer forms that have been
identified by active screening programs for BSE; H type atypical BSE
and atypical Scrapie are also included. The only BSE form proven to
cause disease in humans is the classical BSE which can lead to nVCJD
in humans. None of the other forms have yet been regard as causing
disease in humans, although there might be some zoonotic potential
for the atypical types of BSE, L and H. For more details, please see
the European Food Safety Agency Report: Joint Scientific Opinion on
any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in
animals and humans at
.

The Netherlands had a case last fall, and a single case in 2008, 2006
and 2005. It is not surprising and in fact, reassuring to see an
occasional case of BSE being picked up by the TSE surveillance
programs in place. We should expect to see several more cases in
different countries over the next years. - Mod.PC]

[see also:
2010
----
BSE - Netherlands (02): (NB), OIE 20101023.3843
BSE - Netherlands: new case 20100904.3176
Prion disease update 2010 (07) 20100809.2720
Prion disease update 2010 (06) 20100706.2248
Prion disease update 2010 (05) 20100507.1488
2003
----
BSE - Netherlands: source 20030203.0294
1999
----
BSE - Netherlands: fifth case 19990112.0038
1998
----
Netherlands: fourth case 19981023.2081
Netherlands: third case 19980827.1704
1997
----
BSE - Netherlands: possible source (06) 19970612.1237
BSE - Netherlands: second case (03) 19970407.0736
BSE - Netherlands (03) 19970406.0720
BSE - Netherlands (2) 19970324.0620
BSE - Netherlands 19970323.0612]
...................pc/ejp/dk

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information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Dioxin Feed Contamination Wreaking Havoc on Germanys Meat Producers

DIOXIN FEED CONTAMINATION - GERMANY (04): COST
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 17 Jan 2011
Source: The Poultry Site



The latest dioxin scare has re-emerged as Germany closes more than
900 more farms following delayed information from another feed
manufacturer about sales of contaminated feed. Germany's dioxin scare
spread as 934 farms in 4 states were closed after receiving
dioxin-laced animal feed, according to Deutsche Welle (a news
source). The closures will add to the euro 100-million [USD 130
million] price tag the farmers' union attributed to the scandal.

Authorities in the state of Lower Saxony discovered a producer
suspected of selling dioxin-contaminated feed had hidden deliveries
to 934 farms, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said on
Saturday (15 Jan 2011). The farms have been temporarily shut, and Ms
Aigner called for immediate consequences.

"This is a scandal," she said, adding that she expected a detailed
report from Lower Saxony Premier, David McAllister, by the evening of
15 January 2011.

Elevated levels of dioxin have been traced to one fats manufacturer.
The numerous feed companies that buy its fat have faced testing all
last week to prove their products met the European Union's dioxin
standards of no more than one-trillionth part of food for human consumption.

Federal agriculture officials in Berlin said the latest feed-mixing
company to be implicated had only just been spotted and that there
was no indication it sold any tainted food. Berlin officials said the
Lower Saxony feed mixer had failed to inform authorities it had
bought fat from Harles and Jentzsch, the company at the centre of the scare.

Prosecutors are now investigating whether the company's non-reporting
was deliberate. It had supplied farms in Lower Saxony, as well as the
states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Brandenburg and Bavaria, reports
Deutsche Welle.

Hefty price tag for farmers
---------------------------
The discovery of the toxic chemical dioxin in animal feed has
triggered a health alert and hit sales of German eggs and pork.
Authorities are struggling to contain the scare, which began on 3 Jan
2011, when German officials said feed tainted with dioxin had been
fed to hens and pigs, contaminating eggs, poultry meat and some pork.

Damages from the ongoing scandal would be much greater than the
immediate costs of testing, according to Gerd Sonnleitner, president
of Germany's national farmers' union. "The damage from the disruption
in the market will be many times the direct damage," he said.

Deutsche Welle reports that Mr Sonnleitner put the price of
sequestering farms, requiring laboratory clearance and destroying
produce that failed dioxin tests would cost German farmers euro 100
million (USD 130 million).

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall

[All the articles mention dioxin, but there have not been any reports
of the associated chemicals like PCB, polychlorinated biphenyls. Some
of these associated products can be more toxic than the dioxins.

For more information on dioxins and the chemicals as well as harmful
levels, readers are encouraged to see ProMED-mail post 20110105.0053
and 20110108.0096. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Dioxin feed contamination - Germany (03): official report 20110116.0192
Dioxin feed contamination - Germany (02): farms & food concern 20110108.0096
Dioxin feed contamination - Germany: swine & poultry farms 20110105.0053]
....................tg/ejp/dk

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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************************************************************
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BC Meat Plant Denies Breaking Disposal Rules

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewContent.act?clipid=596743197&mode=cnc&tag=3.8471%3Ficx_id%3D%2F2011%2F01%2F21%2Fpitt-meadows-workers-bse-fields.html

55 Buffalo Mysteriously Die on NY Farm

http://auburnpub.com/news/local/article_6ca7410c-24ac-11e0-80dc-001cc4c03286.html

Sunday, January 16, 2011

200 Cows Drop Dead at Wisconsin Farm

UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, BOVINE - USA (WISCONSIN), SUSPECTED RESPIRATORY DISEASE
****************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 14 Jan 2011
Source: JS online [edited]



200 dead cows found in Portage County field
-------------------------------------------
An investigation is under way after 200 dead cows were found in a field in
the Town of Stockton.

The Portage County sheriff's office says the owner of the cattle has been
working with a local veterinarian and it's believed the animals died from
the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/bovine viral diarrhea (IBR/BVD)
virus. The virus can cause respiratory and reproductive problems.

WSAW reports samples from the dead cows have been sent to Madison for
testing. Authorities say there is no threat to humans or other animals.

--
communicated by:
Fred and Grace Hatton


[Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a highly contagious, infectious
disease that is caused by bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). In addition to
causing respiratory disease, this virus can cause conjunctivitis,
abortions, encephalitis, and generalized systemic infections. IBR was
originally recognized during the early 1950s in feeder cattle in the
western United States. The IBR virus can persist in clinically recovered
animals for years. The virus remains inactive until the animal is placed
under stress. The virus is shed in secretions from the eye nose and
reproductive organs. The clinical diseases caused by the virus can be
grouped into: 1) respiratory tract infections 2) eye infections 3)
abortions 4) genital infections 5) brain infections 6) generalized
infections of newborn calves.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a viral disease of cattle and other
ruminants that is caused by the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). BVDV is
a member of the pestivirus genus. There are 4 recognized species within the
pestivirus genus.

The clinical signs of BVDV are highly variable, including a spectrum from
few to no signs to very severe signs that kill the animal. The signs can be
determined by the genotype of the virus, whether the infection was recently
acquired (that is, acute) or has been acquired for months (that is,
chronic), whether the animal is pregnant, as well as other factors. Some of
the signs of acute infection are fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, ocular
discharge, nasal discharge, oral lesions, diarrhea, and decreasing milk
production. Chronic infection may lead to signs of mucosal disease.

These 2 diseases are often in a complex called mucosal diseases. These
diseases seem to have more impact in cold weather.

There is not enough information in this article to speculate beyond this.
We hope a definitive report will be available soon.

Portions of this comment have been extracted from

and
-
Mod.TG

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Wisonsin can be accessed at
. - Mod.SH]

[see also:
2008
---
Undiagnosed deaths, bovine - USA (WI): RFI 20080401.1200
2007
---
Undiagnosed deaths, bovine - USA (IN) (02) 20071012.3345
Undiagnosed deaths, bovine - USA (IN) 20071010.3321
Undiagnosed deaths, bovine - USA (WA): RFI 20070310.0851
2003
---
Undiagnosed illness, bovines, cervids - USA (TX)(02) 20030220.0439
Undiagnosed illness, bovine, cervids - USA (TX) 20030208.0339]

....................tg/ejp/sh



*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
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************************************************************
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Friday, January 14, 2011

BREAK-THROUGH MAD COW NEWS- BSE AIRBONE!

We knew you cant cook it out, and we knew that it survives in the ground even after freezing winters, but who ever thought it would come to this?



Science-a-Go-Go; http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20110013201145data_trunc_sys.shtml

Science Codex; http://www.sciencecodex.com/bse_pathogens_can_be_transmitted_by_air

Monday, January 10, 2011

PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2011 (01)

******************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


[With the continuing decline of the number of cases in the human
population of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease -- abbreviated
previously as vCJD or CJD (new var.) in ProMED-mail -- it has been
decided to broaden the scope of the occasional ProMED-mail updates to
include other prion-related diseases. In addition to vCJD, data on
other forms of CJD: sporadic, iatrogenic, familial, and GSS
(Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease) are included also since they
may have some relevance to the incidence and etiology of vCJD. -
Mod.CP]

In this update:
[1] UK: National CJD Surveillance Unit - monthly statistics as of Mon
10 Jan 2011 - no new vCJD cases
[2] France: Institut de Veille Sanitaire - monthly statistics as of
Wed 4 Jan 2011 - no new vCJD cases
[3] USA: National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center -
cumulative case numbers for 2010 up to 1 Nov 2010 - no vCJD cases
[4] Taiwan: suspected vCJD case, ex UK, DOH statement
[5] Taiwan: suspected vCJD case, 'ex UK'
[6] Italy (Livorno): 2nd vCJD case

******
[1]
UK: National CJD Surveillance Unit - monthly statistics as of Mon 10
Jan 2011 - no new vCJD cases
Date: Mon 10 Jan 2011
Source: UK National CJD Surveillance Unit, monthly statistics [edited]



The number of deaths due to definite or probable vCJD during 2010 was
170. A total of 4 definite/probable patients are still alive so the
total number of definite or probable vCJD recorded during 2010 was
174.

Although 3 new deaths due to vCJD were recorded in 2009 and 3 deaths
in 2010, the overall picture is still consistent with the view that
the vCJD outbreak in the UK is in decline, albeit now with a
pronounced tail. The 1st cases were observed in 1995, and the peak
number of deaths was 28 in the year 2000, followed by 20 in 2001, 17
in 2002, 18 in 2003, 9 in 2004, 5 in 2005, 5 in 2006, 5 in 2007, one
in 2008, 3 in 2009, and 3 in 2010.

Totals for all types of CJD cases in the UK in the year 2010
------------------------------------------------------------
During 2010, there were 146 referrals, 69 fatal cases of sporadic
CJD, 3 fatal cases of vCJD, 2 cases of iatrogenic CJD, 5 cases of
familial CJD, and one case of GSS.

Since records began in 1990 there have been 2729 referrals, 1199
fatal cases of sporadic CJD, 170 cases of vCJD, 64 cases of
iatrogenic CJD, 82 cases of familial CJD and 43 of GSS.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


******
[2] France: Institut de Veille Sanitaire - monthly statistics as of 4
Jan 2011 - no new vCJD cases
Date: Tue 4 Jan 2011
Source: IVS - Maladie de Creutzfeldt-Jakob et maladies apparentees
[in French, trans. & summ. Mod.CP, edited]



During the 12 months of 2010, there were 1610 referrals, 98 confirmed
cases of sporadic CJD, 6 cases of familial CJD, and no cases of
iatrogenic CJD or vCJD.

A total of 25 cases of confirmed or probable vCJD have been recorded
in France since records began in 1992. There was 1 case in 1996, 1 in
2000, 1 in 2001, 3 in 2002, 2 in 2004, 6 in 2005, 6 in 2006, 3 in
2007, 2 in 2009, and none in 2010.

The 25 confirmed cases comprise 13 females and 12 males. All 25 are
now deceased. Their median age is 37 (between 19 and 58). 7 were
resident in the Ile-de-France and 18 in the provinces. All the
identified cases have been Met-Met homozygotes. No risk factor has
been identified. One of the 25 had made frequent visits to the United
Kingdom, during about 10 years from 1987.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


******
[3] USA: National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center -
cumulative case numbers for 2010 up to 1 Nov 2010 - no vCJD cases
Date: Mon 1 Nov 2010
Source: US National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center [edited]



Cumulative data 1 Jan 2010 to 31 October 2010
---------------------------------------------
During the 10-month period 1 Jan 2010 to 31 Oct 2010, there were 333
referrals, 213 of whom were classified as prion disease cases,
comprising 158 cases of sporadic CJD, 33 of familial CJD, and none of
iatrogenic CJD or vCJD.

Overall of 3831 referrals examined since screening began in 1996 or
thereabouts, diagnosis is still pending in 18 cases, and another 18
cases have been considered inconclusive. [This is a measure of the
difficulty in achieving unequivocal diagnoses. - Mod.CP]

During the same period a total of 2265 prion disease cases have been
screened, a figure which includes 23 (22 during 2010) cases with type
determination pending, but in which a diagnosis of vCJD has been
excluded. 3 cases of vCJD recorded in the USA during the same period
have been attributed to infection in the United Kingdom in 2 cases,
and in Saudi Arabia in the other.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


******
[4] Taiwan: suspected vCJD case, ex UK, DOH statement
Date: Thu 9 Dec 2010
Source: Taiwan Today [edited]



A 36-year-old Taiwanese male is very likely to have died from
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the Cabinet-level Department of Health
(DOH) said on [8 Dec 2010].

The patient, who died this May [2010], resided in the United Kingdom
between 1989 and 1997, when bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in
cattle was at its peak in the UK. It is unlikely that the patient
contracted his disease in Taiwan, the DOH said.

Scientists believe that many years after eating cattle infected with
BSE, patients can develop symptoms of CJD. In the case of the
36-year-old patient, he began to show CJD symptoms, including memory
loss and hypersomnia, in the 2nd half of 2008. Doctors reported to
health authorities in March 2009 that they suspected he had CJD.

After the patient died this year [2010], his family refused to give
doctors permission to perform [an autopsy], the only way the doctors
could determine the cause of death with certainty. His body has since
been cremated. "Though tests were not conducted, the man is an
extremely likely case of CJD, based on his symptoms, travel history,
and the results of magnetic resonance imaging and
electroencephalograms," the Centers for Disease Control under the DOH
said.

The DOH further specified that the patient probably died from variant
CJD [vCJD]. "The World Health Organization has listed the man as a
vCJD case as his brain waves and cerebrospinal fluid showed symptoms
of CJD and vCJD simultaneously," said Chen Shun-seng, convener of
DOH's CJD advisory committee and a neurologist at Kaohsiung Chang
Gung Memorial Hospital.

According to the World Health Organization, CJD is a fatal human
degenerative condition characterized by progressive brain dysfunction
and is categorized into 4 forms: sporadic, familial, iatrogenic, and
variant. "It is believed to be caused by self-replicating
host-encoded protein or prion protein," the WHO said.

According to the UK Department of Health, vCJD differs from CJD in
that the former is more likely to strike younger people. The average
age of death for vCJD victims is around 30 years old, it said.

As of October 2010, there have been 243 possible or extremely
possible cases of CJD reported in Taiwan, resulting in 102 deaths. Of
the deaths, 5 have been confirmed as resulting from CJD, the DOH said.

[byline: Grace Kuo]

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail


[This press report provides background to the case described in the
preceding update (ProMED-mail Prion disease update 2010 (11)
20101206.4364, part [4], which was an abstract reproduced from the
journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
.
The press report above states that the World Health Organization has
listed the man as a vCJD case, but I have been unable to verify this
statement. - Mod.CP]

[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Taiwan is available at
. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

******
[5] Taiwan: suspected vCJD case, ex UK
Date: Sat 18 Dec 2010
Source: Focus Taiwan, Central News Agency (CNA) report [edited]



The 1st probable human case of mad cow disease in Taiwan was listed
posthumously Saturday [18 Dec 2010], following the death in May
[2010] of a man who had symptoms of the fatal brain-wasting illness.
[The clinical investigation of this case was reported in the
preceding update: Prion disease update 2010 (11) 20101206.4364, part
[4] -- Yang CW, Fuh JL, Wang SJ, et al: Probable variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Asia: A case report from Taiwan and
review of two prior cases. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 64(6): 652-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02151.x. published online 25 Nov 2010;
abstract available at
].

The listing was made after officials and experts on a Department of
Health (DOH) panel on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) held a meeting
to determine whether the man had died from the disease as result of
eating infected beef.

"We believe it is very likely that the man who died in May this year
[2010] contracted the disease during his stay in the United Kingdom,"
the DOH said in a press statement. "We cannot rule out the
possibility that he ate infected beef during that time."

Scientists believe that many years after eating cattle infected with
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) , commonly known as mad cow
disease, humans can develop symptoms of new variant CJD (vCJD), also
known as human mad cow disease.

The 36-year-old man had lived in the UK between 1989 and 1997, when
mad cow disease was at its peak in that country. He began to show
vCJD symptoms, including memory loss and hypersomnia, in 2008.
Doctors reported the case to the DOH's Centers for Disease Control in
March 2009.

As his family refused to give doctors permission to perform an
autopsy, the DOH said, it could not list the patient as a confirmed
case of vCJD. His body has since been cremated.

Though the cause of death could not be determined by means of an
autopsy, it was an extremely likely case of vCJD, based on the man's
symptoms, travel history, and the results of magnetic resonance
imaging and electroencephalograms, the DOH said.

According to the DOH's CJD advisory panel, it was unlikely that the
patient contracted the disease in Taiwan.

"His death could be counted as an imported case of vCJD and unlikely
to pose any threat to Taiwan's disease control network," the DOH
statement said.

Citing its tracking records, the DOH said the man had donated blood
to 2 patients 10 years ago. "Neither of them has contracted the
disease," the statement said, adding that precautionary measures had
been taken to prevent any spread of the disease during the time the
man was hospitalized in Taiwan.

According to the World Health Organization, CJD is a fatal human
degenerative condition characterized by progressive brain dysfunction
and is categorized into four forms -- sporadic, familial, iatrogenic,
and variant.

The UK Department of Health has said vCJD differs from CJD in that
the former is more likely to strike younger people.

Since 1997 when the DOH set up a CJD reporting and monitoring system,
436 suspected CJD or vCJD have been reported in Taiwan, DOH figures
show. Of that number, 246 were listed as possible or extremely
possible cases of sporadic or familial forms of CJD, 5 were confirmed
as traditional forms of CJD and one was listed as probable vCJD,
according to the DOH tallies.

The others were ruled out as possible cases of CJD.

[byline: Chen ching-fang, Sofia Wu]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[In view of the fact that the patient's body has been cremated, the
investigation cannot proceed further and the case must remain
suspected rather than confirmed vCJD. If the patient's disease was
vCJD, it is probable that it was contracted during the victim's 8
years residence in the UK. - Mod.CP]

*****
[6] Italy (Livorno): 2nd vCJD case
Date: Thu 6 Jan 2011
Source: Adnkronos Inernational (AKI) [edited]



The human variant of the brain-wasting 'mad cow' disease claimed a
2nd victim in Italy after a 44-year-old woman died in hospital in the
northwestern port city of Livorno, the local health authority
reported on Thursday [6 Jan 2011]. The health authority said the
44-year-old Livorno woman died on Wednesday 5 Jan 20011] and [had
been] admitted to a city hospice in July [2010] in the final stages
of her battle against variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD),
commonly known as 'mad cow' disease. There is no known cure for vCJD.

Italy's 1st case, a Sicilian woman, died in 2002, a year after she
contracted the disease.

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is the human form of the fatal
brain-wasting illness first identified in cattle -- BSE or bovine
spongiform encephalopathy. A total of 275 people have been infected
with the disease over the past decade, 170 in Britain, the
worst-affected country, 56 in Israel, and 25 in France. [As of 31 Dec
2010 the current totals of vCJD cases according to the European and
Allied Countries CJD Study Group
() are UK -171, France - 25,
Eire - 4, Italy - 4, USA - 3*, Canada - 1, Saudi Arabia - 1*, Japan -
1*, Netherlands - 3, Portugal -2, Spain - 5, where * indicates
non-indigenous. - Mod.CP]

Nearly 200 000 cattle have died from BSE over the same period. The
human form of BSE is believed to be caused by eating meat infected
with the bovine disease. EU restrictions on the sale of T-bone beef
steaks and beef offal were lifted in 2006 when officials declared the
'mad cow' outbreak was over.

A massive cull in Britain prevented the spread of the disease but
isolated cases are still reported. Almost 190 000 cattle have died
from BSE over the past 10 years, the vast majority in the UK.

Italy's health ministry and various local health authorities have
always denied vCJD patients can infect their family members and
carers with the disease.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Italy is available at
. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
2010
---
Prion disease update 2010 (11) 20101206.4364
Prion disease update 2010 (10) 20101105.4008
Prion disease update 2010 (09) 20101006.3622
Prion disease update 2010 (08) 20100911.3285
Prion disease update 2010 (07) 20100809.2720
Prion disease update 2010 (06) 20100706.2248
Prion disease update 2010 (05) 20100507.1488
Prion disease update 2010 (04) 20100405.1091
Prion disease update 2010 (03) 20100304.0709
Prion disease update 2010 (02) 20100205.0386
Prion disease update 2010 20100107.0076]

.................sb/cp/mj/lm

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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Vilsack Toots Own Horn (Again) Talks About 2010 Accomplishments

I say, lets talk about the Pigford Scandal, which I understand is still going on;

http://brianallmerradionetwork.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/01-03-11-usda-a-look-back-on-2010-with-secretary-vilsack/#comment-12407

USDA Relaxes Regs, More Meat-Industry Protectionism

USDA Revises Testing & Certification Requirements For The National Brucellosis Program


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced an interim rule that amends its current brucellosis regulations.

“The brucellosis program has been very successful at reducing the disease in this country,” said John Clifford, chief veterinary officer for APHIS. “Today, the disease is mostly eliminated from the United States, with the exception of the known reservoir of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone area. These new regulations will help us better address the current situation and continue to move toward our long-term goal of complete eradication.”

Specifically, these amendments:

* Reduce the amount of testing required to maintain Class Free status for states that have been Class Free for five or more years and have no Brucella abortus in wildlife;
* Remove the provision for automatic reclassification of any Class Free state or area to a lower status if two or more herds are found to have brucellosis within a two-year period or if a single brucellosis-affected herd is not depopulated within 60 days;
* Reduce the age at which cattle are included in herd blood tests;
* Add a requirement that any Class Free state or area with Brucella abortus in wildlife must develop and implement an APHIS-approved brucellosis management plan in order to maintain Class Free status;
* Provide an alternative testing protocol for maintaining the certified brucellosis-free status of dairy herds, which will give producers more flexibility for the herd certification process.

These changes are necessary to refocus resources to control and prevent the spread of brucellosis and to protect and maintain the economic viability of the domestic livestock industry. The interim rule is the first step in updating the brucellosis program, and is consistent with the proposed changes set out in a concept paper USDA published in October 2009. USDA considered the 361 comments received on the concept paper during the 90-day comment period, and incorporated state, industry and public input when creating the interim rule. As USDA continues to move forward with finalizing new regulations for the brucellosis program, we will continue to engage stakeholders and other interested parties for input.

The interim rule is published in today’s Dec. 27, 2010, Federal Register and becomes effective upon publication.

Public comments on this interim rule will be accepted, and used as USDA continues to move forward with finalizing new regulations for the brucellosis program. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Feb. 25, 2011. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0083 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
* Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: please send one copy of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0083, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0083.

Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov website and may also be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/USDA-Revises-Testing---Certification-Requirements-For-The-National-Brucellosis-Program/2011-01-03/Article_Latest_News.aspx?oid=1295887&fid=CN-LATEST_NEWS_

Monday, January 3, 2011

Cattle Health: New Importation Regulations For Trichomoniasis In Kansas

01/03/2011 09:43AM

Trichomoniasis (infection caused by Tritrichomonas foetus), commonly known as Trich, has been added to the list of officially reportable diseases in Kansas. This means ranchers, managers or veterinarians who discover the existence of Trich, must report it immediately. Bulls coming into Kansas are required to be tested for Trich prior to importation.

Historically, Trich has been a major problem primarily in western states with Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) communal grazing lands. However, this disease has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in many private beef cattle operations in Kansas during recent times. Both increased testing and improved diagnostic methods have suggested that this disease has a significant presence in Kansas.

Trich infection routinely causes female reproductive/infertility problems which clinically appear as repeat breeding and poor pregnancy results. Pregnancy rates may be decreased as much as 50 percent or more when Trich enters the herd. Many older cows will clear the infection within 3 months and then go on to conceive if the breeding season is long enough. However, calving may be spread out over a longer period of time resulting in wider than expected range in calf sizes. Heifers will rarely rebreed if a short breeding season is used. Herd owners may notice that cows previously observed being bred may be seen taking the bull again later, and that bulls are still working hard late in the breeding season. Open cows or cases of pyometra (pus-filled uterus) detected at preg check time may be a result of Trich infection.

Trich is sexually-transmitted, with bulls being persistent carriers. Infected bulls show no signs of disease. They remain infected for life. Mature bulls are typically more of a problem than younger bulls due to increased preputial wrinkling which provides a better environment for growth of the organism. There is no treatment that will clear up infected bulls. Because bulls are the primary carrier of the disease, the focus of all testing programs is to detect and remove infected bulls.

Infected bulls and open cows should be sold only for slaughter. Open heifers should be sold only as feeders. Management practices that will help ensure that you do not bring this disease into your herd include buying young virgin bulls, virgin replacement heifers, “experienced” bulls that test negative, cows with calf at side that have not been re-exposed to a bull, or cows that are known to be at least 120 days pregnant.

All western states and states neighboring Kansas have in place or are in the process of developing regulations to (1) stop the importation of bulls that might be infected with this disease into the state, and (2) stop the movement of bulls carrying this disease between herds within the respective states. Their laws require all non-virgin bulls be tested and certified negative for Trich before being imported into or sold within the state.

Testing for the presence of the trich organism involves sampling non-virgin bulls or bulls of unknown sexual activity status. Preputial scrapings inoculated into special transport/growth media pouches are required. Your veterinarian should be able to obtain these pouches and do the proper sample collection and submission for you.

Trichomoniasis test results from Kansas cattle must be reported to the Kansas Animal Health Department within 48 hours of obtaining results. This applies to tests conducted by an accredited lab in Kansas or reported to an accredited Kansas veterinarian.

To be certified as negative, samples from a test-eligible animal must have been:
1) Collected into and transported to the lab using the In PouchTM TF test kit system;
2) Submitted to an AAVLD-accredited laboratory for testing;
3a) Found negative on 3 successive InPouchTM microscopic examination tests on test samples collected at least 1 week apart.

or

3b) Found negative on 1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on samples collected only after the bull has been sexually rested for a minimum of 2 weeks before sample collection.

Kansas Importation Regulations
Bulls entering Kansas from another state must be:
1) Shipped or sold directly to a Kansas licensed slaughter facility.

or

2a) Individually identified with an officiallyrecognized device or method.

and

2b) Accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection completed within 30 days prior to entering the state. The certifying veterinarian must attest to any knowledge of the existence of Trichomoniasis in the herd of origin within the previous 2 years.

and

2c) Accompanied by either:
• For virgin bulls eighteen (18) months of age or younger:
i) a breeder’s certificate (statement that bulls have not been exposed to breeding aged females),
ii) breeder’s signature
iii) animal’s age in months
iv) individual identification

or

• For non-virgin bulls, bulls nineteen (19) months of age or older, and those of unknown status:
A copy of the animal’s certified negative test results from an AAVLD-accredited laboratory, to include:
i) animal’s officially-recognized individual identification
ii) owner’s name and address
iii) name and address of veterinarian who collected and submitted the test samples
iv) number and type of test conducted (3 InPouchTM microscopic exams or 1 PCR test)

Note: The owner shall ensure that no female contact occurs following the first qualifying test.

Exceptions to these requirements will be granted only to bulls being shipped directly to slaughter, a sanctioned rodeo event, or a livestock show where they will be shown and then returned to the state of origin without being sexually exposed to breedingaged females.

Following input from and discussion by stakeholders of the Kansas beef industry, it is anticipated that regulations to control the spread of Trich within the borders of Kansas will be developed. Watch for details in a future issue of Beef Tips.

Source: Larry C. Hollis, D.V.M, M.Ag, extension beef veterinarian

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Cattle-Health--New-Importation-Regulations-For-Trichomoniasis-In-Kansas/2011-01-03/Article.aspx?oid=1295676&fid=CN-FEATURES-DNA_PROFILING

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Most Important Livestock Disease You Probably Never Even Heard Of

Johnes;
http://meatsubs.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-important-disease-you-probably.html

USDA Creates Bill to Compell Japan to Buy Our Beef, Lies to Congress about Mad Cow

Lies highlighted in bold italics

S. Res. 452

RESOLUTION

Supporting increased market access for exports of United States beef and beef products to Japan.

Whereas, in 2003, Japan was the largest market for United States beef, with exports valued at $1,400,000,000;

Whereas, after the discovery of 1 Canadian-born cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease in the State of Washington in December of 2003, Japan closed its market to United States beef, and still restricts access to a large number of safe United States beef products;

Whereas for years the Government of the United States has developed and implemented a multilayered system of interlocking safeguards to ensure the safety of United States beef, and after the 2003 discovery, the United States implemented further safeguards to ensure beef safety;

Whereas a 2006 study by the United States Department of Agriculture found that BSE was virtually nonexistent in the United States
; ( I would like to see a copy of this "study")

Whereas the internationally recognized standard-setting body, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), has classified the United States as a controlled risk country for BSE, which means that United States beef is safe for export and consumption. (Oh yes and we believe anything the WHO has to say......we KNOW they would never lie to U.S. (not.)

Full text; http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=sr111-452

USDA Gets New National "Sheep Center," Creates New Jobs for Big-Ag Bureaucrats

The jobs; http://www.hpj.com/archives/2011/jan11/jan3/1213SheepCenterDirectorsNam.cfm?title=USDA%20announces%20Sheep%20Center%20directors




The Center; http://www.lincoln-county-chronicle.com/2010/12/07/usda-establishes-new-national-sheep-industry-improvement-center-idahoan-appointed-to-board/