CaribVet
ProMED reports that the USDA Influenza A virus (IAV-S) in Swine surveillance has identified several strains of H3N1 in swine since Dec. 2013 and that 2 viruses carry a novel seasonal HA gene from contemporary human viruses, and are distinct from the current Swine H3 viruses.
Potential sprea of H3N1 or H3N2 that carries the human like H3 could have significant impact in swine herds due to poor herd immunity as well as potential public health ramifications.
The USDA alerts producers, veterinarians and nathional animal health laboratories from the USA of this occurence.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) held a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Simulation workshop on 15 to 17 September, 2014 at Central Farm, Cayo District.
The exercise codenamed “Baymen’s Clan” was funded by the BAHA, IDB, FAO, PAHO and PANAFTOSA through monies and/or technical assistance. The programme included review and finalization of a draft FMD procedural manual, presentations on procedures contained in the manual and visits to four cattle farms with a hypothetical suspect case of FMD.
Professional Development Scholarship Opportunity in One Health
Dr Miguel Angel Depaz, Director of Animal Health, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, informed the OIE that a field simulation exercise on foot and mouth disease (FMD) will take place on 15 to 17 September 2014 in Central Farm, Cayo District, Belize.
The objectives of this simulation exercise code-named “Exercise Baymen’s Clan” are to:
CIRAD, CMAEE research Unit has 1 position for post-doctoral researcher, within the frame of the Epigenesis projet. His/her main research will deal with the methodological development of cost benefits assessment of supranational animal health networks, such as CaribVET.
Full description, requirements and contacts provided in the document attached.
Deadline for application: September 8th.
The government of St. Eustatius is recruiting a veterinarian responsible for all aspects concerning animal health and food safety: certification of live animals as well as of carcasses/ meat products, implementing slaughterhouse improvements, reviewing laws & regulations concerning, animals and slaughterhouse, general veterinary work on large animals, emergency work, on companion animals and collaboration with the human health department concerning zoonoses.
Main activities, Competences and experience, fees and Charte are detailed in the document attached.
Subsequent to the media release by CaribVET about Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), the Barbados Veterinary Services carried out a number of activities to keep farmers and the general public informed about the disease.
The Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET) is encouraging stakeholders in all pork industries in the Caribbean to take every precaution to prevent the introduction into the countries of the viral disease, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED). PED has been present in both Europe and Asia for some time but since the first case was identified in the United States of America in April last year, the disease has spread rapidly to 27 states, across the border into Canada and was recently confirmed in Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
On June 13th 2014 the Dominican Republic notified the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) of the presence of PED in the country. The outbreak began on the 12th November 2013 and was confirmed using real time RT- PCR, viral isolation and histopathology on 21st March 2014. As of June 2014, 7 outbreaks were reported with apparent morbidity and mortality rates of 12.7% and 8.5% respectively. An estimated total cost of the outbreak is over US $1.8 Million.
Job offer - Spatial Epidemiologist, microbiologist and economist in animal health - CIRAD Guadeloupe
CIRAD Guadeloupe, CMAEE - Control of Emerging and Exotic Animal Diseases - mixed Cirad/Inra research unit recruits 3 scientists as part of the EU/Epigenesis project:
- A Spatial Epidemiologist to develop a regional geographic information system with a view to associate environmental, epidemiologic and economic data including animal movements in the Caribbean.
Recently the OIE has been reporting Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea as an emerging disease in the USA, Japan and Canada. It is not an OIE listed disease but some countries already have made it a notifiable disease.
Clinical signs include diarrhoea, vomiting, anorexia and 50 - 100% mortality in piglets. It is clinically indistinguishable from Transmissible Gastro Enteritis. See attached USDA technical note for more information.
Especially note case definitions!
CaribVET is organizing its 9th steering committee meeting on 5th and 6th May in Havana. Following the meeting, the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of the steering committee will, for the first time, attend the Second International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance (ICAHS).
CReSA (Research center on animal health), Barcelona, Spain is looking for a post-doctoral fellow (first or second post-doc experience) willing to work in a project of influenza virus, who has experience in virology, molecular biology, particularly in new generation sequencing techniques and large data set sequence analysis. Knowledge in molecular immunology is desirable.
The Cayman Islands Veterinary Medical Association (CIVMA) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 28th Biennial Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association (CbVMA) Conference to be held November 4-7, 2014 at the Marriott Beach Resort located on Seven Mile Beach. This event is the premier meeting venue for veterinarians of the Caribbean with additional attendees from other countries, including the United States.
Belmopan, 3rd March 2014
The 5th meeting of the Swine Disease Working Group (SD WG) was held at the Hotel Blau Marina in Varadero, Cuba from the 4th to 6th September 2013. This Meeting was combined with the final OIE Laboratory Twinning Workshop between CENSA, Cuba and the Institute of Virology, Hannover (September 3-5). The meeting was hosted and co-organized by CENSA, OIE, CIRAD and the FAO. Participants included members of Cuba (CENSA), the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, the USDA and personnel form the organizers.
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN DISEASE MODELING
POSITION: The Veterinary Population Medicine Department of the College of Veterinary Medicine has an opening for a 100% Post-doctoral Associate position funded by USDA. The position will focus on network modeling and analytic epidemiology.
by Victor Gongora
Belize, Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, member countries of CaribVET, were privileged to attend the 3rd OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Education, including the role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies (VSBs), held in Foz do Iguazu (Brazil) on 4–6 December 2013. Excellent presentations on the global status of veterinary education and VSBs motivated all participants to take responsibility to strengthen our veterinary profession considered as a global public good.
Key take-home messages for CaribVET countries included:
The joint meeting of the FCR ”ResisT” Project on Tick Resistance, surveillance and control in the Caribbean and the 3rd meeting of the CaribVET Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases Working Group was held in CIRAD, Guadeloupe, 26th November - 28th November, 2013.
