Thailand plays King Canute with H5N1

The time has come for Thailand to recognize that H5N1 infection is endemic in non-commercial poultry in the country and in surrounding nations, and develop a more realistic control plan. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Thursday 10 August 2006

EU Salmonella targets - legislating against the principles of epidemiology

The European Commission issued Directive IP/06/1082 on August 1st establishing targets for the reduction in prevalence rate of "Salmonella" in flocks producing table eggs. But is it enough? By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Monday 07 August 2006

Conflicts between veterinary and public health agencies emerge over HPAI.

The New Delhi meeting was arranged for representatives of eleven Asian nations to review the control and prevention of HPAI and hopefully resolve some conflicts. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Wednesday 02 August 2006

Preparing for Disasters

The recent 2006 meeting of the American Association of Avian Pathologists devoted an entire session to the lessons learned following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf States of the USA on August 29th 2005. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Monday 31 July 2006

The need to restrain production

The recent decline in export demand for processed portions, whole birds and leg quarters has created an oversupply situation in the markets of both Brazil and the USA. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Wednesday 19 July 2006

Transparency in reporting AI

On 22nd June, ProMed reported on a episode of mortality in migratory birds in the southern part of Zambia. An epidemiologist with the Government of Zambia, later stated that diagnostic procedures had eliminated avian influenza but there was no definitive diagnosis given. Since then there has been no further posting, which gives cause for concern. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Thursday 06 July 2006

WTO in crisis

The collapse of negotiations among 60 Ministers of 149 member Nations of the WTO has created a crisis situation with profound implications for the populations of both industrialised and developing countries. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Wednesday 05 July 2006

Future training of specialists in poultry production

The July 1st 2006 edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association features an article on the future supply of Veterinarians in food production and ranked poultry veterinary medicine as the sector with the lowest future demand for specialist veterinarians. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Monday 03 July 2006

Ethanol Production

In response to environmental restraints including banning the additive MTBE, and Congressional tax incentives, ethanol production from maize has expanded to the point that the energy industry is now in direct competition with intensive livestock. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Monday 26 June 2006

Does organic production offer solutions?

The banning of antibiotic feed additives to enhance growth and feed conversion in the EU during the declining years of the past century was not based on sound science. Satisfying voluble advocacy groups may have been politically expedient but the blanket action of legislators in this instance has raised production costs without evident benefit to consumers. By Simon Shane

Author: Guest Bloggers | Tuesday 13 June 2006

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