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Disease Outbreaks & Information
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Canine cough outbreaks reported in multiple regions
8/18/2017
Unidentified cause propels laboratories into research mode
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Fast-spreading cough strikes dogs in Montana
8/1/2017
Some infections lead to pneumonia, death
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Low thiamine suspected in cat illnesses linked to BFF food
6/9/2017
Veterinarian relates how cases arose in Australia and persist despite recall
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Veterinary researchers close in on FIP treatment
5/24/2017
Potential drugs for cat disease in development; funding ramps up
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Veterinarians identify thiamine-deficient cats, prompting pet food recall
3/6/2017
Signs include cluster seizures, twitching, imbalance, down-bent neck
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Massachusetts hustles to adopt new rabies approach
8/17/2016
Veterinarians welcome relaxed, science-based rules
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Reports of jerky-treat illnesses down but not out
5/16/2016
FDA counts more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, three people affected to date
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Dog flu relatively new but not novel
3/1/2016
Experts differ on the merits of widespread vaccination
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Study: Pets overdue for rabies shot still protected
6/12/2015
Rabies compendium update to reflect discovery
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Sea lions need greater medical attention this season
4/22/2015
Veterinary care in demand for stranded, starving young
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Canine influenza expert calls for better border protection
4/21/2015
Zoetis: H3N2 vaccine in the pipeline
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Accidental pet exposures to hormones: purveyors respond
4/2/2015
Reactions range from nonchalance to concern
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American-made jerky tied to illness in dogs
3/30/2015
Cases of acquired Fanconi arise despite treat-market shift
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Reports of jerky pet treat illness ebb in U.S.
2/19/2015
International puzzle persists
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Dog under Ebola watch gets high-level caretakers
10/20/2014
Pending quarantine protocol for pets unlikely to involve private clinics
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Seeing health links between mountain gorillas and people
7/31/2014
Veterinarian envisions photo documentary through lens of public health
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Lawmakers question FDA, USDA about food from China
6/18/2014
Loopholes exist in country-of-origin labeling, regulators concede
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Pet treats: Does 'Made in USA' mean safe?
6/10/2014
Illness linked to Chinese-made jerky spurs label changes
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Pet store chains to drop China-made treats — eventually
5/21/2014
Petco, PetSmart bow to customer concerns
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Insect repellent, antiviral drug detected in jerky pet treats
5/16/2014
Whether illnesses stem from the contaminants is unknown
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Map tracks veterinary infectious disease cases in real time
4/18/2014
Veterinarians encouraged to report illness in dogs, cats, horses
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Unusual dog leads veterinarian on unusual path
11/26/2013
How a sick shar-pei puppy steered clinician to research
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FDA calls on veterinarians to help solve jerky mystery
10/22/2013
Agency cites continued lack of awareness among public
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Study: Dog treats likely culprit in Australian outbreak
10/15/2013
Many patients recovered simply by stopping treats
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Powassan virus like West Nile but more severe
9/17/2013
Rare tick-borne disease catches attention in East, Midwest
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Veterinarians skeptical canine circovirus alone is sickening dogs
9/10/2013
Practitioners with suspect cases urged to contact state officials
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Heartworm drug resistance: It's real
8/19/2013
All preventive drugs on market implicated, scientists say
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Lab that found antibiotics in jerky continues search
4/3/2013
Testing treats singly was possible key to discovery
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VIN solicits jerky-associated illness reports
1/15/2013
Research veterinarians seek solution to mystery
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Jerky treats recall not tied to mysterious pet illnesses
1/11/2013
Antibiotic residues detected by New York inspectors
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Swine flu outbreak continues to grow
8/24/2012
Summertime fairs advance spread, health officials say
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Pet treat investigation expands beyond chicken jerky
8/17/2012
FDA cites rise in complaints about duck, sweet potato products
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Veterinarians advise avoiding chicken jerky dog treats
5/25/2012
Attention to 6-year-old mystery intensifies
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Catching worms from pets: real risk or far-fetched?
2/15/2012
Veterinary personnel wonder whether to deworm themselves regularly
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Veterinarians serve family-health role in suspected zoonoses
2/10/2012
To test or not to test; that is the question
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Recent reports overstated canine influenza activity
1/23/2012
Some veterinarians suspect vaccine marketing clouds reality
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Spike in dog-flu reports attracts media attention
12/22/2011
Actual incidence is undefined
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FDA: Study of Salmonella in pet food just ‘routine’
11/18/2011
Agency downplays concern about contamination
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Jerky treats for dogs still suspected in illness
7/8/2011
Veterinarians advise caution in choosing snacks
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FAA spot inspects veterinary practices
11/5/2010
Surprise audits nab those who improperly package hazardous substances
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Recall issued of certain Blue Buffalo dog foods
10/8/2010
Excess vitamin D in food linked to illness in pets
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Germ that causes cat scratch disease not necessarily mild
9/20/2010
Veterinary professionals at risk of Bartonella infections
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Veterinarians report mysterious link between dog food and hypercalcemia
8/31/2010
Initial analysis: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Diet contains normal levels of calcium, vitamin D
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Sago palm poisoning cases increase
4/7/2010
Ornamental plant becoming popular nationally
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Canine flu: How big a threat?
11/17/2009
Clinicians grapple with immunization policy
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'Swine flu' could also be called ferret, feline and fowl flu
11/10/2009
H1N1 nimbly passes from humans to other species
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Pet Carousel pig ears, beef hooves under recall
11/9/2009
Products sold by PetSmart and other outlets
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Iowa cat tests positive for H1N1 virus
11/4/2009
First known feline case; role in transmission undetermined
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Following product recalls, Fanconi-like syndrome outbreak abates in Australia
9/23/2009
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Veterinarian dies after contracting Hendra virus
9/2/2009
CDC concerned about infectious disease control in veterinary practices
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H1N1 virus played no part in UC Davis worker's death
8/12/2009
Official cause of death pending
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UC Davis death prompts warning of Type A H1N1 pandemic flu
8/10/2009
Administrative assistant complained of flu-like symptoms prior to death
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Clostridium botulinum not detected, pet food maker says
6/17/2009
FDA action that stripped Evanger's ability to ship pet food based on paperwork flap, company says
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Media exaggerated threat of rabies strain that jumped species, epidemiologist says
6/10/2009
Bat rabies strikes foxes and skunks in Arizona
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Virbac recalls VeggieDent chews in Australia
6/4/2009
Action spurred by link to kidney disorders in dogs
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Strep zoo infects Philadelphia shelter dogs
6/4/2009
Lab results dismiss canine influenza, as reported by media
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Distemper strikes
5/18/2009
Leaders issue outbreaks warning, cite seasonal cases
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'Swine influenza' name sickens U.S. pork markets
4/29/2009
AVMA issues statement; efforts underway to rename virus
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International swine flu outbreak is fast-changing, mysterious
4/27/2009
Despite name, pigs are not implicated
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Guidelines raise bar on infection control in veterinary practices
2/17/2009
Report outlines safety strategy for protecting animals, staff, community
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Salmonella poisoning in dog linked to peanut-butter recall
2/12/2009
Officials tie first pet case to nationwide outbreak
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Pet food court settlement hung up by appeals
12/18/2008
23,000 pet owners filed claims to date
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Melamine turns up in Chinese dog food, Kills 1,500 raccoon dogs bred for their fur
10/23/2008
The latest melamine scandal in China has hit dogs again.
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Potential Salmonella contamination prompts Hartz recall
10/22/2008
Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips pulled from store shelves
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Melamine hangover lingers over pet food industry
10/13/2008
Latest China scandal, lawsuits, sales slump keep issue alive
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Arrests made in melamine contamination case
9/16/2008
Authorities link tainted milk to last year's pet food contamination
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State issues warning as rabies cases climb 60 percent
9/12/2008
Investigation underway, Georgia officials say
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Early test results show no new parvo outbreak, MSU says
9/4/2008
Unknown respiratory disease also strikes Michigan shelter
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Shortage of human rabies vaccine nears, CDC warns
8/27/2008
Agency asks DVMs to educate the public concerning ways to avoid exposure
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Mad cow case crops up in Canada
8/15/2008
Officials confirm disease in Alberta beef cow
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Mystery of illness associated with jerky treats persists
FDA advises continued caution
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Disease Outbreaks & Information
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Report outlines safety strategy for protecting animals, staff, community
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February 17, 2009
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service
Dr. J. Scott Weese likens veterinary medicine’s attitude toward infection control measures to where human medicine stood in the early 1970s, before the rapid spread of diseases like HIV.
Now with super bugs like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, on the scene, a solid infection control strategy is vital for veterinary practices, says Weese, an internist and microbiologist who heads infection control at the Ontario Veterinary College’s teaching hospital.
“It’s a very underdeveloped field,” Weese says. “Every veterinary clinic should have a formal infection control program.”
To drive that message home, Weese has co-authored what he says is the first set of routine guidelines meant for companion-animal practices. Titled “Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Small Animal Veterinary Clinics,” the 54-page report sponsored by the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance touches on everything from hand washing to waste management.
“We’re looking at personal health as well as animal health,” Weese says. “People can easily acquire infection and bring it home and infect their families. There’s also owner safety. The paper addresses pretty broad topic areas.”
Dr. Craig Datz welcomes the approach, imagining that if practices do already have protocols, they’re probably buried in the bottom of a cabinet.
“There’s not been a scary disease like HIV to wake up the small animal practitioner,” says Datz, a clinician at the University of Missouri’s veterinary teaching hospital and an infectious disease and immunity consultant for the Veterinary Information Network. “Most of us don’t feel like we’ll catch diseases from our patients, but you can, if you’re not careful. MRSA makes you sit up and take notice.”
He adds that very little attention is paid to everyday protection against infectious diseases, even in teaching hospitals, where it can take a leptospirosis outbreak to get people on the safety bandwagon.
“A lot of situations like that could be better handled up front, even with simple hand washing, which is probably minimal in a lot of veterinary clinics,” Datz says.
The baseline of infection control is not rocket science and prevention strategies are far from cumbersome, Weese says. “But a lot of people spend a lot of time cleaning and disinfecting, and they don’t get anywhere because they’re not doing it right.”
To assure proper protocols are followed, the report suggests that practices name one person to be an infection control practitioner, or ICP, responsible for developing and implementing a safety manual and training veterinarians as well as other staff members. That central resource also would be charged with recording incidents of suspected hospital-associated infections.
Related audit tools allow practitioners to assess and evaluate their own infection-control standards.
The guidelines, designed to protect patients, owners, veterinary personnel and the community, also are meant to stave off legal cases. In the absence of an infection control program, it would be very difficult to argue that contracting a virulent staph infection like MRSA was not preventable, Weese contends.
“If there’s no demonstration that a clinic has gone the extra mile to make people aware and train people in infection control, I think that’s a huge liability,” he says. “A lot of clinics have kids working in them; training is very low. There is an inherent risk of injury and disease when working with animals, and that risk is big.”
VIN News Service commentaries are opinion pieces presenting insights, personal experiences and/or perspectives on topical issues by members of the veterinary community. To submit a commentary for consideration, email news@vin.com.
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