| Veterinary Medicine Update | PEDV toll mounts as virus spreads through swine herds Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has spread rapidly to 13 states since it was first identified in the U.S. in April, and officials think the strain may have originated in China. PEDV is an intestinal virus that takes a heavy toll on young pigs, and veterinarians Rod Hall and Steven Henry estimate 250,000 to 300,000 piglets have succumbed to the disease so far in Oklahoma alone. "It is a very dramatic and terrible disease for the producers and the animals, and at this point, there is no prevention, no treatment," Dr. Henry said. The Kansas City Star (Mo.) (7/8) MERS threat prompts second-ever WHO emergency meeting For only the second time ever, the World Health Organization called an emergency meeting to discuss an emerging infectious disease. This time, it was about MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee was formed after SARS emerged in 2002 and held its first meeting when H1N1 avian influenza sickened thousands of people in 2009. It's possible the committee will announce MERS to be an international health emergency after the meetings today and Thursday. Business Insider (7/8) Other News | How to protect horses from West Nile virus Last year, 36% of horses tested in North Dakota were positive for West Nile virus, a potentially deadly mosquito-borne infection that can also infect dogs. As mosquito season sets in, North Dakota veterinarians are reminding owners to protect horses and watch for signs of infection. Horses should have been vaccinated in April and May, and owners should consider using repellant on stables and animals, keeping horses inside when mosquitoes are abundant and removing any standing water, according to deputy state veterinarian Beth Carlson. "Animals that may be affected should be under the care of a veterinarian," Dr. Carlson added, saying supportive therapy is crucial to help animals recover. Agweek/Forum News Service (7/8) Fla. equine abuse case is "as bad as it gets" Two horses boarded up nearly out of sight in a Miami-area stall have been rescued after months of isolation during which they survived by eating wood and their own feces. They were housed within sight of but without access to a water source. "It was almost like they were being nailed into a coffin to die," said Jeanette Jordan, president of the South Florida SPCA. In another particularly egregious case, a beagle mix with burns and severe skin lacerations was treated by veterinarian Maria Serrano, who was credited with saving the dog's life. The Miami Herald (free registration) (7/9) Other News  | If you had fleas—you'd want Activyl® too! Dogs, cats and their owners all want something that's really effective at getting rid of fleas! Now you can offer them Activyl®—a highly effective innovation in flea treatment that works through bioactivation-a mode of action that uses enzymes inside the flea to activate Activyl®'s full flea-killing power. Learn more here! | |  | Seven Ways to Get Your Veterinary Practice in the News Innovative public relations ideas for veterinary services and other pet service businesses can be a great way to grow your company. Getting your business mentioned in the newspaper, on the radio, or on local television can be powerful free advertising. Mediastead can help you create an organized media relations campaign. Click here to learn more. | | Podcast: Kennel cough There are a number of reasons why our dogs might cough — anything from inhaled irritants to congestive heart failure. One of the more common reasons, however, is due to a condition called "kennel cough." So what exactly is kennel cough, and how serious of a condition is it? In AVMA's latest podcast, Dr. Stephan Carey, an assistant professor at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses kennel cough. Listen to the podcast.  | Every Animal Needs a Strong Foundation As AVMA's charitable arm, we are uniquely positioned to forge the strength of thousands of veterinarians and millions of pet owners. Learn more about what we do at www.AVMF.org. | |  | If there is no struggle, there is no progress." -- Frederick Douglass, American social reformer, orator and writer | | | The news summaries appearing in Animal Health SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The AVMA is not responsible for the content of sites that are external to the AVMA. Linking to a website does not constitute an endorsement by the AVMA of the site or the information presented on the site. Questions and comments should be directed to SmartBrief at avma@smartbrief.com. | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions.
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