APHIS Fantasies
The following reports were sent out by Carla Everett of the Texas Animal Health Commission. This is not the first time Ms. Everett has been the source of important information.The first report from Ms. Everett appeared on ProMed's mailing list. Her post reported on a meeting at which Dr. Alphonso Torres, who was head of APHIS's Veterinary Services at the time, spoke. The report indicated that Dr. Torres stated that RHD may have entered the U.S. through Mexico. The report also contained concerns expressed by Dr. Torres regarding the trickle down effect RHD could have on other livestock industries, citing the death of laboratory rabbits used for vaccine manufacturing in Cuba.
Given the attention they have given RHD, the latter comment is to be expected. The first still makes little sense, unless one suspects that APHIS may hold the same suspicions we do; that RHD is much more prevalent in the U.S. than official reports indicate. Her post can be read in total Here. Her new report, which came in two emails, follows;
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 *Austin, Texas 78711 *(800) 550-8242* FAX (512) 719-0719
Linda Logan, DVM, PhD* Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
For Immediate Release--March 13, 2002
Alert from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC): Kansas Disease Investigation
Please share this information with others in the livestock community who may have heard media reports of a possible foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Kansas. We have talked with livestock health officials in that state for the latest information.
Blisters and erosions (sores) have been detected in eight cattle and several horses in that state. Veterinarians from the Kansas Animal Health Department collected blood samples and tissue scrapings from the animals and these are being carried to the offshore Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Plum Island, New York. Lab results will not be known for about 24 hours. We will provide diagnostic information as soon as it is available.
According to Dr. Terry Conger, TAHC's state epidemiologist, it is unlikely that the oral lesions were caused by foot-and-mouth disease, because horses, which are not susceptible to the viral disease, also exhibited sores. Currently, it is thought that the sores may have be feed-related.
Dr. Conger said a a number of domestic diseases, chemicals and even plants can cause signs identical to foot-and-mouth disease in cattle. These are ; BVD, Bovine Viral Diarrhea; or IBR, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (red nose). VS, or Vesicular Stomatitis, can affect cattle, horses and pigs. Toxic chemicals and grasses also can cause oral lesions.
Dr. Richard Ferris, area veterinarian-in-charge for the USDA's Veterinary Services in Texas, noted that at least 400-500 foreign animal disease investigations are conducted each year in the U.S. "4At this point, we have no indication that this investigation is any more likely than others to result in a diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease," said Dr. Ferris. "I urge producers to continue reporting any signs of a potential foreign animal disease in their livestock, including blistering, unusual ticks, staggering, or sudden herd or flock illness or death loss. We routinely watch for such signs and will respond accordingly, as demonstrated in this Kansas situation."4
To make reports, producers should contact their private practitioner and the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242, which is in operation 24 hours a day.
This is the second part of the report sent by Ms. Everett.
ALERT FROM THE TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION (TAHC):
Good news regarding the Kansas disease investigation! No foot-and-mouth disease! I am forwarding a news release from the Kansas Animal Health Department for your information. Carla Everett, public info, TAHC. 1-800-550-8242STATE OF KANSAS KANSAS ANIMAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
George Teagarden, Livestock Commissioner
708 SW Jackson Topeka Kansas 66603-3714
Phone 785/296-2326 FAX 785/296-1765
www.ink.org/public/kahd
For more information contact: George Teagarden (785) 296-2326
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 14, 2002
USDA TESTS ON KANSAS COWS TURN UP NEGATIVE
(TOPEKA) - Samples from eight Kansas cows suspected of having Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were negative for the virus. According to Kansas Animal Health Commissioner George Teagarden, lesions observed by veterinarians were caused by beards in hay being fed, not FMD. While the samples were being tested at the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory in Plum Island, New York, the cattle in question were placed under quarantine as a precaution. One of the Kansas Animal Health Department's (KAHD) lead veterinarians inspected the actual premise from which the cows originated and found horses with similar oral blisters. The fact that horses cannot contract FMD served as strong evidence the problem was connected to the feed source.
USDA and KAHD routinely investigate suspected cases of foreign animal diseases, including FMD. Officials with both agencies are in the field and at ports-of-entry every day monitoring for the possible presence of foreign animal diseases. Last year alone, USDA tested about 800 samples for FMD. All were negative.
"These tests are part of our ongoing surveillance activities to prevent foreign animal diseases," said Teagarden. "This case shows the system works." KAHD, at the direction of the state livestock commissioner, operates with the purpose of ensuring the public health and safety of Kansas citizens through prevention, control and eradication of infectious diseases affecting livestock in the state. The agency monitors and controls the spread of livestock diseases by licensing and regulating public auction markets, feedyards, by-product plants and livestock dealers. In recent years, Kansas Animal Health Department worked with the livestock industry to successfully eradicate bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis and porcine pseudorabies.
The Coalition Wonders...
One of our scientific advisors spoke with APHIS veterinarians in regards to this incident. He was told that Timothy Hay seeds were found in the blisters found on these animals.Our Kansas Rep is still attempting to speak with Kansas Officials who have not returned her phone calls. The purpose of her call is to ask if the animals were tested for Caliciviruses. Various Vesiviruses, which are considered Foreign Animal Disease agents and comprise one of the Calicivirus groups, are known to cause vesicular disease in both cattle and horses. Caliciviruses were not listed in the report as one of the causes of blisters in livestock.
Should Kansas authorities not respond to her questions, and perhaps even if they do, Freedom of Information Act requests regarding this incident will be filed. The Coalition has a strong interest in determining how our government agencies handle such outbreaks beyond the information given in their press releases. Not that we don't want to know if Caliciviruses were present.
The USDA does have the ability to test for Caliciviruses to some degree. Research conducted by Dr. J. Neill and Dr. B. Seal led to the creation of a fairly adequate PCR test. Failing success with their reagents, the USDA is aware that highly adequate reagents are available through Dr. Alvin Smith.
We also know that Vesiviruses, specifically VESV, (Vesicular Exanthema of Swine Virus), was found in a herd of pigs in California in the 1970's. That herd was eradicated because Brucellosis was found to be infecting the herd as well. The presence of VESV and complete VESV symptomology, blistering and limping, was not enough to warrant eradication, despite VESV's status as a Foreign Animal Disease. Which leaves us to ask why rabbits suspected of being infected with RHD should be eradicated. Especially when RHD is not a Foreign Animal Disease. Hmmm...
Want to help protect the rabbits in the U.S. from the government and RHD? Become A Volunteer! If your time is unavailable, you can still help by Donating!
--Tom Clancy, 1947 - 
The RHD In The Us Website Is Sponsored By Kind Planet