Day: March 29, 2011

AVMA Podcast West Nile virus

West Nile virus has been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until 1999, when it was first identified in New York, that it appeared on the radar for most of us in the U.S. The virus is now found in nearly every state and has proven fatal to not only humans but birds and horses, and has caused illness in other animals as well. In the latest AVMA Animal Tracks podcast, Dr. Don Hoenig, state veterinarian and state public health veterinarian from Maine, discusses West Nile virus as it relates to animals, including our pets. Listen

Read More »
March 29, 2011 No Comments

AFBF applauds House passage of veterinary health bill

The House passed a bill that would help increase the number of veterinarians working in livestock and food animal practices and in key public health fields. The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the Senate to follow suit. “Many recent studies have shown dramatic shortfalls of veterinarians in food animal practice in rural areas and in key public health practice areas, including food systems, veterinary medicine and at several federal government agencies protecting the nation’s food supply and keeping a watchful eye out for bioterrorism and foreign animal diseases,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “The national pool

Read More »
March 29, 2011 No Comments

Anthrax Case Confirmed in TX. Hill County

AUSTIN – The first case of anthrax in Texas livestock for 2011 has been detected on a ranch in Hill County near Whitney. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has quarantined the premise after one cow tested positive for the reportable disease. The initial case is somewhat unusual as it was detected earlier in the year than normal and in a different part of the state than expected. There have been no previous cases of anthrax in livestock reported in Hill County. Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a naturally occurring organism with

Read More »
March 29, 2011 No Comments