National Animal Health Surveillance System Outlook
Issue 8, October 2005
The NAHSS Outlook is an electronic communication with information about the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) that is distributed via email to all members of Veterinary Services. Contact the National Surveillance Unit to provide comments and suggestions for future topics.
Articles in This Issue:
- Anthrax Surveillance in North Dakota
- The California Pilot Project
- Cattle on Feed Sentinel Feedlot Monitoring Program
- Poultry Disease Surveillance in Backyard Flocks in Nebraska
- NAHSS Activity Update - October 2005
What's new with the development of the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS)?
Click here for brief updates on the Classical Swine Fever (CSF) surveillance plan , development of surveillance standards , bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) data analysis , Rift Valley fever surveillance plan , and the Interagency H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Working Group
Anthrax Surveillance in North Dakota
Excessive early summer rains and severe lowland flooding followed by hot summer temperatures resulted in an anthrax outbreak in eastern North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and southern Manitoba. This is the largest anthrax outbreak in recent history. As with other non-program diseases in Veterinary Services, there is no active surveillance plan for anthrax. Instead, states utilize a passive surveillance system, relying on a pool of trained investigators, diagnostic submissions, laboratory support, education, and mandatory reporting. Read more about anthrax surveillance.
A review of problems identified during the 2002-2003 outbreak and mitigation of exotic Newcastle disease in southern California resulted in the development of the California Pilot Project. The CPP will provide groundwork for future surveillance and mitigation efforts by streamlining data collection and facilitating information exchange. The initial testing of the design will occur in October 2005, with actual deployment occurring in December 2005. Learn more about the California Pilot Project.
Cattle on Feed Sentinal Feedlot Monitoring Program
The Sentinel Feedlot program was initiated in 1993 to monitor the death loss of cattle on feed. Veterinarians provide death loss information to USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services on a monthly basis, and deaths are attributed to one of three categories, respiratory, digestive, or other. Aggregated information is reported back to the consultants, along with their individual feedlot results for comparison. An internet based reporting tool is currently being developed, and the program will likely expand to include more consultants and increase the number of feedlot cattle monitored. Read more about the cattle on feed monitoring program
Poultry Disease Surveillance in Backyard Flocks in Nebraska
In response to the elevated risk of a foreign animal disease outbreak posed by backyard flocks and live bird markets, many states have implemented small flock poultry disease surveillance programs. In Nebraska, the small flock poultry disease surveillance program provides flock owners with educational opportunities relating to basic poultry husbandry and management principles, as well as free testing of biological samples collected from selected flocks for avian influenza, exotic Newcastle disease and other, more common avian diseases. Overall, the program has been well received and surveillance data are reported to Nebraska's poultry industry at various meetings throughout the year. Read more about backyard poultry disease surveillance in Nebraska.