REGIONAL

Montana is exercising their emergency disease response plan

The Montana Department of Livestock is collaborating with the United States Department of Agriculture to conduct a 3 day animal disease response exercise. 

The exercise will simulate a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak because health officials recognize the potential for devastating economic consequences of the disease.

This exercise will help make Montana’s livestock industry more disease resilient, because all FMD prevention and eradication partners across the state can better understand their roles and responsibilities in a response.

Tri-State Livestock News

NATIONAL

A new reason to set mousetraps

Researchers have found multiple pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes in the microbiomes of New York City rodents.

Mice are found living in close proximity to humans worldwide, and these findings indicate a concern that humans could be at great risk of acquiring an antimicrobial resistant disease from the unwanted houseguests. 

More research is needed to understand how these rodents contribute to environmental contamination and what risks they pose to their human roommates. 

American Society for Microbiology

INTERNATIONAL

Prion disease in African camels now being further recognized

Different prion pathogens are known among many different animals species, and their risk to humans is variable depending on type. 

African camels (commonly a source of milk, meat, and transportation in Africa) were identified with a prion disease at slaughter, and records show similar signs of illness dating back over a couple decades. 

Despite some media outlets comparing the camel prion to “Mad Cow Disease,” more information is needed to understand the risks of the camel prion in people.

The Telegraph
CDC