Page 303 of articles about health

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.

The course of a classic swine fever outbreak is determined in large part by the virus strain with which the pigs are infected. That is the conclusion Eefke Weesendorp recently presented in her doctoral thesis. She has definitively proven that the virus can occur in the air and can therefore be transmitted through an airborne vector.

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance lifts from 7 April 2010 previously imposed temporary restrictions (Rosselkhoznadzor Instruction FS-NV-2/8807 dd. 14.08.2009) on import from Colombia (excluding the Nariño Department) to Russia of animals susceptible to FMD, beef, mutton, pork, milk and dairy products including finished products and feeds of animal origin, other raw materials and products derived from animals susceptible to FMD, used equipment for their management, slaughter and processing.

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease serotype O was confirmed at a beef cattle farm in Seonwon-myeon, Ganghwa-gun.