|
Newsletter Volume 5 Issue 15 1 August 2025 |
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS From the President From the Editor Public Health In the News Food Safety In The News
Announcements Meet Your Committee Representatives Resources Continuing Education |
|
|
AAFSPHV President Pamela Abney, DVM |
| From the President
Hello from your President this hot and humid July/August 2025.
With all that is happening to the structure and workings of our federal government, and by osmosis state and local governments, it has been a bumpy ride. To quote the saying “this too shall pass,” it is my hope that with time, our basic science, public health, research and development systems will recover. Stay knowledgeable and engage in educating those who will listen about what we do as veterinarians in the One Health sphere.
Collaboration in the profession was alive and well as we met July 17-22, 2025 in Washington, DC for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) National Convention held concurrently with the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association (WSAVA). There was something for everyone there, so much so, in fact, that it was hard to get to everything as the public health, One Health and food safety tracks overlapped somewhat during the weekend. Of special note was a 90-minute joint reception held in the Marriott Ballroom A on Saturday night, July 19, 2025. The District of Columbia Veterinary Medical Association (DCVMA), National Association of Federal Veterinarians (NAFV), and AAFSPHV came together to show solidarity and to help our colleagues in need of a job or professional advice the opportunity to network with other veterinarians who could help. As a long-time member of the AAFSPHV, DCVMA, and NAFV, I was thankful to be able to help get us all in one room for the opportunity to share our common missions and goals. More on the annual AVMA convention can be found at the AVMA's website.
I want to give a shout out to Dr. Amanda Sorensen, AAFSPHV Communications Director, for her hard work in providing information for our bi-weekly newsletters and especially for her participation in the One Health Heroes podcasts, which are well worth a listen. And, if any of you are interested in providing news for the newsletter or assisting Mandy in a podcast, please contact her directly at: editor@aafsphv.org
|
|
|
From left to right:
AAFSPHV Past-President Angela Demaree, DVM, MPH AAFSPHV Executive Vice President Katherine Waters, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
AAFSPHV Representative, AVMA HOD Kristen Clark DVM, MPH, DACVPM AAFSPHV President Pamela Abney, DVM |
|
|
Communications Specialist Mandy Sorensen, DVM, MPH |
| From the Editor Hello members,
What an outstanding AVMA convention this was! Thank you to all who participated in the Public Practice Networking event hosted by DCVMA, NAFV, and AAFSPHV. It was a pleasure to get to meet some of you in person and be inspired by the remarkable group of veterinary professionals working in One Health! Items that may be of particular interest:
The One Health Clinic - A new study published yesterday evaluates 4 years of data from Seattle's One Health Clinic, which treats young adults and companion animals experiencing homelessness. Click here to read the study and learn more
Darwin's Raw Pet Fails to Recall Contaminated Products - The FDA has recommended recall of lots of Darwin's Raw Pet Food tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 as well as Salmonella Infantis and Hadar, but the company has thus far refused to issue the recall. Consumers are advised to check freezers for and discard any product from affected lots, which were produced in 2024. See the FDA advisory for lot numbers and more information by clicking here.
Congress overhauls federal student loan program - The recently passed "One Big Beautiful Bill" includes major changes to student loan repayment programs that will impact many veterinarians. Read this article from the AVMA to learn more about the changes coming to student loans.
Job Board - The job board is updated weekly, and many interesting roles such as the Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Biological Scientist (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and Veterinary Medical Officer (New World Screwworm) that were just posted and expire very soon. If you're looking for new employment, I encourage you to check it out.
One Health Heroes - We have been partnering with Dr. Brittany Lancellotti of Your Vet Wants You To Know to bring public health information to pet owners and veterinary professionals twice monthly. You can listen to episodes here. It's a great experience and platform, and if you'd be interested in sharing your expertise on a One Health topic please email me at editor@aafsphv.org
To continue to support our members and provide access to high quality continuing education, we're updating the CE calendar regularly, so take a look. As always, if you have news, CE or job opportunities, or thoughts or concerns you'd like to share, please send them my way at editor@aafsphv.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for all the incredibly valuable work you do! |
|
|
PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE NEWS |
|
|
The impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infection on dairy cows
Peña-Mosca, F., Frye, E.A., MacLachlan, M.J. et al. The impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infection on dairy cows. Nat Commun 16, 6520 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61553-z
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus has been associated with severe mastitis in dairy cows, leading to decreased milk production. Here we investigated the impact of H5N1 virus infection in health and production parameters in an affected dairy herd in Ohio. Clinical disease, which lasted for about three weeks, was recorded in 20.0% (777/3876) of the adult cows. Milk losses of ~900 kg per cow were recorded in affected cows during a 60 day-post-outbreak period. Seroprevalence was 89.4% (570/637) in the herd, with 76.1% (485/637) of seropositive animals being subclinically infected. Clinically affected cows presented an increased risk of death (6 times) and of premature herd removal (3.6 times) when compared to non-clinical cows. Economic losses due to decreased milk production, mortality, and early herd removal were estimated at $950 per clinically affected cow for a total cost of ~$737,500 for the herd during the observation period. Our results demonstrate a production impact lasting at least 60 days post-clinical diagnosis and major financial consequences of HPAI H5N1 virus infection to dairy farms.
Read more |
|
|
Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain Bulut, E., Murphy, S.I., Strawn, L.K. et al. Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain. Sci Rep 15, 17421 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01585-z
Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157) in romaine lettuce remain an ongoing public health concern. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models are key tools for identifying control measures to mitigate foodborne diseases. Here, we introduce a comprehensive QMRA framework along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce chain, including a novel preharvest difference equation model, to predict annual ECO157 illness cases in the United States and evaluate control strategies. We demonstrated the importance of managing irrigation-related contamination at preharvest to control illness cases. Wildlife intrusions pose lower health risk, followed by runoffs and biological soil amendments of animal origin. When preharvest contamination persists and combines with time–temperature abuses at postharvest, the predicted ECO157 illness cases rise considerably. We showed a broad range of interventions targeting both preharvest and postharvest stages can effectively improve the microbial safety of fresh-cut romaine. The comprehensive practices and interventions explored in this study will aid decision-makers in establishing/enhancing food safety best management practices.
Read More |
|
|
Update on H5N1 Bird Flu Surveillance in U.S. From the CDC H5 Bird Flu webpage: "On July 7, 2025, CDC streamlined H5N1 bird flu updates with routine influenza data updates and updated reporting cadences to reflect the current public health situation. As such, the following changes were made to this page: Data on the number of people monitored and tested for bird flu are reported monthly.
USDA data on HPAI detections in animals will no longer be reported on the CDC website. These data can be found on USDA's website. CDC will continue to report any additional human cases of H5 bird flu here and in FluView."
Visit the CDC's H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation page |
|
|
New World Screwworm Current Situation and Resources |
|
|
While there have not been any more recent press releases from USDA, screwworm was last found less than 400 miles from the southern US border and remains a threat. See below for excellent resources on New World Screwworm and read the most recent press release from USDA below.
Latest update from USDA:
"(Washington, D.C., July 9, 2025)- Yesterday, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) reported a new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz in Mexico, which is approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile fly dispersal grid, on the eastern side of the country and 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border. This new northward detection comes approximately two months after northern detections were reported in Oaxaca and Veracruz, less than 700 miles away from the U.S. border, which triggered the closure of our ports to Mexican cattle, bison, and horses on May 11, 2025..."
Read the full press release from USDA here
Screwworm Resources: New World Screwworm remains a threat, and all veterinarians should be sure to know the signs and how to report potential infestations. Below are some resources on identifying, treating, and reporting cases that may be helpful. A great, concise article from the AVMA on NWS diagnosis, treatment, and how to report cases can be found here. The USDA-APHIS page on New World Screwworm can be found here. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension New World Screwworm Fact Sheet can be found here.
USDA-APHIS Training Module 41 on New World Screwworm can be found here. This is highly recommended viewing for all veterinarians. |
|
|
| Legislative Advisory Committee Update AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee Updates
Submitted By Michele Pfannenstiel, DVM
July 2025
The AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee recently reviewed several important pieces of legislation affecting veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
The committee voted to support the STOP Screwworms Act (H.R. 3392/S. 1751), which strengthens tactics to prevent screwworm populations. However, the committee recommended opposing three other bills: the CARGO Act of 2025 (H.R. 1085), which would cease animal research grants overseas; the Federal Animal Research Accountability Act of 2025 (H.R. 3295); and the HEARTS Act of 2025 (H.R. 1291), which focuses on humane alternatives in research and testing. These oppositions were in large part due to the ongoing effort of AAFSPHV to oppose re-opening of the Animal Welfare Act.
On July 17th, AVMA members participated in the annual Fly In, meeting with congressional staffers to advocate for two key issues important to veterinary professionals. The first seeks to change the tax treatment of veterinary student loan repayment benefits, making them non-taxable like similar programs for physicians and dentists. The second addresses xylazine scheduling concerns, working to ensure large animal practitioners maintain adequate access to this essential drug while supporting appropriate controls. Both initiatives have bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The AVMA Government Relations Division worked closely with USDA and FDA officials to balance regulatory needs with practical veterinary medicine requirements in the Act, ensuring practitioners can continue providing quality care while supporting appropriate oversight measures.
|
| |
AAFSPHV Executive Vice President Katherine Waters, DVM, MPH, DACVPM |
| Call For Alternate Representative to the AVMA Committee on Antimicrobials
We are looking for a member to volunteer as our alternate representative to the Committee on Antimicrobials for a 3 year term, from 2025-2028.
To learn more about the Committee on Antimicrobials, click here. We ask that our representative: - Attend all in person and virtual committee meetings
- Provide a short summary for the newsletter after your committee's bi-annual meetings
- Provide a short summary to the board after your committee's bi-annual meeting
-
Prepare and 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 expertise in this area and would like to volunteer, please complete the following steps: -
Fill out the AVMA committee nomination form available here
- Include a short (up to 2 page) resume or CV.
- Send both to Dr. Waters at executivevp@aafsphv.org.
|
|
|
President-Elect Jane Lewis, DVM, MS, DACVPM |
| 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 |
|
|
AAFSPHV Member and Dean of Roseman University's New CVM Katherine Fogelberg, DVM, PhD |
| Congrats to AAFSPHV member Dr. Katherine Fogelberg on being named Founding Dean of Roseman University's new college of veterinary medicine!
From the Roseman CVM Website: "Katherine Fogelberg earned a PhD in Science Education from Texas Christian University, an MA in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX), and a DVM from Texas A&M University. An Army veteran, she has well over a decade of small animal general practice/emergency experience with a few years of zoo and wildlife medicine experience as well. Dr. Fogelberg has worked for 15 years in higher education as a professor and administrator; has published numerous scholarly articles and reviews for scholarly journals across education, veterinary medicine, and public health; is the editor and a contributing author for a recently published veterinary education textbook; provides educational consulting services; and has delivered several keynote and CE sessions over the past decade.
Dr. Fogelberg is also a co-founder and the CEO of a non-profit that has a school in Kisii, Kenya, which currently educates over 300 children. As a founding member of the Academy of Veterinary Educators, she served as its first President and was recognized as one of 32 Distinguished Educators, a cohort established to help create, implement, and oversee a rigorous certification process intended to formally recognize expert and accomplished veterinary educators across the profession and around the world."
Read more about Roseman's new veterinary college and Dr. Fogelberg's appointment here. |
|
|
MEET YOUR COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES |
|
|
AAFSPHV has designated seats on the Legislative Advisory Committee, the Food Safety Advisory Committee, and the Committee on Antimicrobials. For each committee we nominate a member to serve as the representative and another as the alternate representative. Representatives and alternates can serve a maximum of two 3-year terms. We announce openings for our designated seats and call for nominations when a term is up. |
|
|
Legislative Advisory Committee Representative
Michele Pfannenstiel, DVM |
| Legislative Advisory Committee Representative Dr. Michele Pfannenstiel Dr. Pfannenstiel is serving her second term as the Legislative Advisory Committee Representative for 2025-2028. In her application, Dr. Pfannenstiel shared the background, expertise, and approach she brings to the committee.
In her application to serve on the committee Michele writes:
“I bring both small business experience, deep knowledge of the food regulatory process and the common sense to know when legislation and proposals are over the top. I practice and lead through inclusive excellence. I seek to step up when needed and step back when called for. I actively seek out diverse opinions on issues and bring the issues."
Dr. Pfannenstiel is the founder and CEO or Dirigo Food Safety LLC and consults with small business owners on their food safety needs. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia. |
|
|
|
Experiencing hardship?
The AVMA offers reduced dues or dues exemption for qualified applicants.
To learn more and apply click here |
|
|
|
Not One More Vet offers a variety of resources to support veterinary professionals including micro-grants for those experiencing hardship. To learn more about the resources NOMV features, visit them here.
To learn more about micro-grants, click here. |
|
|
August 2025 CDC ZOHU Call/Webinar Presentation topics: You Otter be Kidding Me: One Health Investigation into Tularemia from Marine Mammals Occupational Exposure to Animals with Tularemia Time to Talk Ticks—Ehrlichiosis in the United States
When: 6 August at 2pm Eastern Time
Where: MS Teams Webinar
Cost: Free
CE Hours: AAVSB RACE approved continuing education is available through CDC Train To Register for the Webinar: click here |
|
|
Looking for more CE or have a CE event you'd like to share?
View our full calendar here
To share an upcoming event, please email me at editor@aafsphv.org |
|
|
Please follow AAFSPHV on Social Media. We just joined bluesky |
| |
|
AAFSPHV News Brief Vol 5 Iss 15 www.aafsphv.org |
|
|
|
