| News Brief Volume 5 Issue 5 1 MAR 2025 |
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AAFSPHV President Pam Abney, DVM |
| FROM THE AAFSPHV PRESIDENT |
The last six weeks have been tumultuous and a cause for concern regarding the future of public health and truth in science. Many of our colleagues in federal government have been given conflicting instructions, intimidated with communications from questionable sources, forbidden from communicating with the public or other scientists, and outright fired without real cause. Scientific data on websites used by millions have been taken down, for example the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR). Some of these reports, examples listed below, were removed totally, revised partially and/or reinstated anew when the public outcry became audible enough.
In our desire to support public health science and our federal colleagues, efforts have been made to get information distributed through non-government organizations (NGOs) like ours and through educational institutions, collectively called EDUs. With information changing daily on what can or cannot be provided at the federal level, these actions at information sharing have been challenging at best.
One particular Zoom call on Feb. 19, 2025, from University of California’s One Health Institute, attended by several thousand people, titled ‘UC Health Systemwide Grand Rounds: Avian Flu - An Emerging and Evolving Threat to Humans and Animals’ is well worth reviewing. You can watch it here.
Other EDUs I am aware of attempting to fill the information void include:
Cornell's Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Resource Center. Read more.
The University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Read more.
The UC Davis One Health Institute. Read more.
There are numerous other public health and food safety educational institutions and websites. I have included several MMWR reports below, mostly on HPAI in mammals. One of the most recent cases found in indoor cats raises the safety concern for veterinarians in clinical practice that may see cats with neurological symptoms. USDA also has relevant information still available, for now, on its websites.
The USDA has released its technical brief regarding the D1.1 detection. It is available here. The USDA has also released an update on the Central and North American outbreak of New World Screwworm, which is available here.
If any article is available as a PDF, I would strongly advise you save any of these governmental websites and MMWR reports for future review as the websites can be taken down at any time. As a side note, please keep your USDA Accreditation current, if applicable. We may need your public health expertise in the future for the next foreign animal disease outbreak or worse.
The geopolitics of what we may or may not have in the next four years is speculative at best. I am editorializing here, but quite worried about the true objective of the chaos and obvious distractions within the current administration regarding everything, in particular our current way of life, public health, food safety and the pursuit and application of real science. For those interested in history and leadership, I found an easy to read 126-page book that is worth considering: Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. There is a hard cover illustrated version (my favorite), the paperback version, audiobook and e-books.
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Communications Specialist
Mandy Sorensen, DVM, MPH |
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I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Communications Specialist and Editor for the AAFSPHV. During these trying and tumultuous times, veterinarians are more essential than ever in protecting public health and food safety. I hope to not only continue to provide valuable information and resources, educational opportunities, and news to help our members stay current and connected, but also to expand our outreach and impact.
Our organization is filled with an outstanding and inspiring group of dedicated veterinarians. I invite you all to send me articles and news of interest, continuing education events, job postings, and any professional accomplishments that you’d like to share. Likewise, feedback, questions, and concerns are always welcome. You can reach me at editor@aafsphv.org.
Thank you all for the incredibly valuable work you do. |
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PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE NEWS |
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Past Reported Global Human Cases with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) (HPAI H5N1) by Country, 1997-2025
This graph shows all human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) bird flu virus reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the first human cases in 1997. A(H5N1) bird flu viruses first emerged in southern China in 1996. Those viruses caused large poultry outbreaks in Hong Kong in 1997, which resulted in 18 human infections. The 1997 bird outbreak was controlled, but the A(H5N1) bird flu viruses were not eradicated in birds and re-surfaced in 2003 to spread widely in birds throughout Asia, and later in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, causing poultry outbreaks and sporadic human infections. Since 2003, more than 23 countries have reported more than 890 sporadic human infections with A(H5N1) bird flu viruses to WHO.
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Mass Mortality of Sea Lions Caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus
Gamarra-Toledo V, Plaza PI, Gutiérrez R, et al. Mass Mortality of Sea Lions Caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2023;29(12):2553-2556. doi:10.3201/eid2912.230192. Abstract
We report a massive mortality of 5,224 sea lions (Otaria flavescens) in Peru that seemed to be associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The transmission pathway may have been through the close contact of sea lions with infected wild birds. We recommend evaluating potential virus transmission among sea lions. Read more |
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection of Indoor Domestic Cats Within Dairy Industry Worker Households — Michigan, May 2024 Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13 infection has been documented
in cats on U.S. dairy cattle farms. In May 2024, the detection of HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection in two cats that were reported to be exclusively indoor, and that had respiratory and neurologic illness in different households, prompted an investigation by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MDHHS/MMDHD). The cats’ owners and household members were interviewed and offered testing for influenza A(H5) virus. The owner of one cat worked on a dairy farm but declined A(H5) testing; three other household members received negative A(H5) test results. The owner of the other cat lived alone and worked on multiple dairy farms transporting unpasteurized milk; this worker also reported getting splashed in the face and eyes by unpasteurized milk but declined A(H5)
testing. Read more |
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Exposure and survival of wild raptors during the 2022–2023 highly pathogenic influenza a virus outbreak
Rayment, K.M., Franzen-Klein, D., Kurimo-Beechuk, E. et al. Exposure and survival of wild raptors during the 2022–2023 highly pathogenic influenza a virus outbreak. Sci Rep 15, 6574 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90806-6
Abstract
The global outbreak of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 highly pathogenic influenza A virus (HP H5N1) has had an unprecedented impact on wild birds including raptors, but long-term population impacts have not been addressed. To determine if raptors survive infections with HP H5N1, raptors from the upper Midwest United States were serologically tested for antibodies to influenza A virus (IAV), H5 and N1. Raptors were sampled at The Raptor Center’s (University of Minnesota) wildlife rehabilitation hospital and at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. Samples were tested for IAV antibodies using a commercially available blocking ELISA, with positive samples tested for antibodies to H5 and N1. Antibodies to IAV were detected in 86 out of 316 individuals representing 7 species. Antibodies to H5 and N1 were detected in 60 individuals representing 6 species. Bald eagles had the highest seroprevalence with 67/97 (69.1%) seropositive for IAV and 52 of these 67 (77.6%) testing positive for antibodies to both H5 and N1. Prevalence of antibodies to IAV observed in this study was higher than reported from raptors sampled in this same region in 2012. The high prevalence of antibodies to H5 and N1 indicates a higher survival rate post-HP H5N1 infection in raptors than previously believed.
Read more |
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H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation |
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What to know
H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people More info |
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Ask the Expert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses Dr. Tim Uyeki, Chief Medical Officer of the Influenza Division at CDC, answers common questions about highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses, which have been detected in the United States in wild birds since late 2021 and commercial and backyard poultry since February 2022. Read more |
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AAFSPHV Treasurer Kelly Vest, DVM, DrPH |
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Testing of Retail Cheese, Butter, Ice Cream, and Other Dairy Products for
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the US
David L. Suarez, Iryna V. Goraichuk, Lindsay Killmaster, Erica Spackman, Nicole J. Clausen, Tristan J. Colonius, Cynthia L. Leonard, Monica L. Metz,
Journal of Food Protection, Volume 88, Issue 1, 2024
Abstract
The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows has created public health concerns about the potential of consumers being exposed to live virus from commercial dairy products. Previous studies support that pasteurization effectively inactivates avian influenza in milk and an earlier retail milk survey showed viral RNA, but no live virus could be detected in the dairy products tested. Because of the variety of products and processing methods in which milk is used, additional product testing was conducted to determine if HPAI viral RNA could be detected in retail dairy samples, and for positive samples by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) further testing for the presence of live virus. Revised protocols were developed to extract RNA from solid dairy products including cheese and butter. The solid dairy product was mechanically liquified with garnet and zirconium beads in a bead beater diluted 1–4 with BHI media. This preprocessing step was suitable in allowing efficient RNA extraction with standard methods. Trial studies were conducted with different cheese types with spiked‐in avian influenza virus to show that inoculation of the liquified cheese into embryonating chicken eggs was not toxic to the embryos and allowed virus replication. A total of 167 retail dairy samples, including a variety of cheeses, butter, ice cream, and fluid milk were collected as part of a nationwide survey. A total of 17.4% (29/167) of the samples had detectable viral RNA by qRT‐PCR targeting the matrix gene, but all PCR‐positive samples were negative for live virus after testing with embryonating egg inoculation. The viral RNA was also evaluated by sequencing part of the hemagglutinin gene using a revised protocol optimized to deal with the fragmented viral RNA. The sequence analysis showed all viral RNA‐positive samples were highly similar to previously reported HPAI dairy cow isolates. Using the revised protocols, it was determined that HPAI viral RNA could be detected in a variety of dairy products, but existing pasteurization methods effectively inactivate the virus assuring consumer safety.
Read More |
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APHIS Identifies HPAI Infections In Additional Mammals Including Rats, Canada Announces HPAI Vaccine Purchase |
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| New Mammalian HPAI Detections Per the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), additional infections were identified in black rats, a seal, a fox, a bobcat, and a house cat.
See the USDA graphic and chart of mammalian detections of HPAI in the US
See the CIDRAP posting from 2.26.25 Government of Canada purchases avian influenza vaccine to protect individuals most at risk From: Public Health Agency of Canada News release February 19, 2025 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and its partners are focused on keeping people and animals in Canada safe and ensuring Canada is ready for any potential health threats. This includes taking proactive measures to protect the health of people in Canada by authorizing and securing the supply of a human vaccine against avian influenza as part of our readiness and potential use, as needed, based on risk conditions...
Read more |
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Executive VP Dr. Katherine Waters |
| Seeking Volunteer To Be New Representative to AVMA Food Safety Advisory Committee
Members,
We are looking for a member to volunteer as our new representative to the AVMA Food Safety Advisory Committee. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the AVMA committee application and nominations form (attached) AND send a 2 page resume or CV to Dr. Waters at executivevp@aafsphv.org.
Application deadline: March 15, 2025 We know the application deadline is March 1, but we have notified the AVMA that we will be sending in an application by end of March.
Here is a description from AVMA is available here.
American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians
Details: Must be nominated by AASPHV
Term ends: July 2028
Nominations due: March 1, 2025
Outgoing member: Paulo Mohyla
We ask that our representative
1. Attend all in person and virtual committee meetings.
1. Provide a short summary for the newsletter after your committee’s bi-annual meetings.
2. Provide a short summary to the board after your committee’s bi-annual meeting.
3. Prepare and present a summary of your committee’s work at our annual meeting.
4. If appropriate, solicit opinions and responses on pertinent issues of public health and food safety from our members via our website forum and/or communication channels so that you can represent us on your committee.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Katherine executivevp@aafsphv.org |
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Past President and Education Chair Angela Demaree, DVM, MPH |
| Education Committee Seeking Volunteers We are seeking volunteers to help us with our Education committees. This committee oversees scientific presentations at AVMA and USAHA conventions and the ACVPM sponsored CE webinars. Time commitment: this committee meets monthly via Zoom for 1 hour.
If you are interested in volunteering contact Angela Demaree at angela@angelademaree.com |
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| Membership and Admissions Committee Seeking Volunteers
This committee shall be responsible for actively recruiting members and determining eligibility for membership. Time commitment: this committee has been inactive and will need to meet via Zoom 1-2 times a month for 3 months to develop a member recruitment and retention strategy. After 3 months, meetings will be as needed. If interested, contact Jane Lewis at jmlvet94@gmail.com |
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President-Elect Jane Lewis, DVM, MS |
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World Organization for Animal Health Webinar
Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (2024-2033 March 3, 2024 (GMT+1:00)
Description
Join us for the upcoming technical webinar on the newly released Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (2024–2033).
This strategy was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) under the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) and coordinated by the GF-TADs High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Task Force, in close collaboration with the GF-TADs Management Committee.
The revised Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (2024–2033) has been developed to respond to the global challenges by adopting a One Health approach for sustainable poultry sector transformation to prevent outbreaks, protect livelihoods, safeguard biodiversity and reduce public health risk.
There is no CE credit available for this event, but it should be very interesting.
Register here. |
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AAFSPHV News Brief Vol 5 Iss 5 www.aafsphv.org |
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