Page 298 of articles about health

Following a request from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued scientific advice on the possible short-term risks from fluoride in ash for food and feed safety, including drinking water, in the wake of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland on 14th April 2010.

The National Service of Animal Quality and Health (SENACSA) of Paraguay last week announced, by the signing of the Presidential Decree Nº 4,214, the passing of the National Plan for Swine Health of Paraguay and the Program for the Eradication of classical swine fever.

During the years 2004 to 2007, 26 Member States submitted information on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria originating from poultry, pigs and cattle as well as from meat to the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, Norway and Switzerland provided information for the report.

The latest figures presented to the European Commission by the Polish veterinary authorities on the status of Aujeszky’s disease in Poland indicate that from a total of 16 regions, there are 8 with a prevalence of 0.5% while the other 8 have a prevalence of between 0.5% and 5%, while there are no zones with a prevalence of over 5%.

The OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) reports an outbreak at a farm in Sinri-myeon, Chungju-city, Korea.

The veterinary authorities of Italy have presented a report to the European Commission on the situation of the island of Sardinia in relation to the focal points of African swine fever.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reports a suspected outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at a cattle farm in Tsuno-cho Koyu-gun, Miyazaki. If it is confirmed, it will be the first outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Japan since 2000

The United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has published the final rule for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).

Researchers in Kenya have been trying a seemingly unlikely tactic to prevent epilepsy: teaching farmers to tether their pigs. The goal is to stop the pigs from spreading a type of tapeworm that can infect the brain in humans and that is a major cause of epilepsy in poor countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where millions are infected.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Biological Hazards was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on a Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (QMRA) of Salmonella in slaughter and breeder pigs. The assessment would provide the input for a future cost/benefit analysis of setting a target for reduction in slaughter pigs at EU level. EFSA commissioned a QMRA modelling the pig meat food chain from farm to fork.

In the framework of article 31 of Regulation EC 178/2002, the European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority for assistance in preparing an annual technical report of the results of residue monitoring in food of animal origin in the Member States. The present report summarises the monitoring data from 2008 in the 27 Member States.

Australia’s livestock industries and the Federal Government are investing in a new five-year $5 million research program to address vulnerabilities in Australia’s readiness to control Foot and Mouth Disease.

The Commission publishes two reports which demonstrate the need for further progress in the European Union on the issue of anti microbial resistance. The first is a pan-European survey which reveals some worrying trends in public attitudes towards the use of antibiotics. The results indicate that citizens need more information on the correct use of antibiotics, even though 37% of respondents remember having received information on not overusing antibiotics in the last 12 months. The second document is a progress report, adopted today, on the 2002 Council Recommendation on the prudent use of antibiotics.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, is delighted to announce that Ireland has achieved an important EU milestone in receiving official recognition of our Aujeszky's disease control and eradication status.

Blue ear disease reoccurred in Vietnam as there were 91 pigs found infected with the disease in the northern province of Hai Duong.