CDC confirms bird flu in one person; poultry, ruminant experts warn of avian influenza outbreak

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Monday a human case in Texas of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as H5N1 bird flu.

MAMMALS BEWARE — On March 20, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported HPAI in a juvenile goat, marking the first case of the virus in a domestic ruminant in the United States. As of March 29, USDA has confirmed HPAI in dairy cattle herds in Texas, Kansas and Michigan. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

According to a release from the CDC, the “person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering.”

The confirmation does not change the CDC’s overall human health risk assessment for HPAI, which is currently considered low, according to the report.

The news comes on the heels of recent reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture detailing the spread of HPAI not only in poultry flocks, but also in cattle and small ruminants as well. Between March 7 and March 20, the virus was confirmed in flocks in six states, including a commercial facility in South Dakota affecting more than 31,000 birds. The rest of the flocks affected, however, numbered between 10 and 280 birds.

On March 20, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported HPAI in a juvenile goat, marking the first case of the virus in a domestic ruminant in the United States. As of March 29, USDA has confirmed HPAI in dairy cattle herds in Texas, Kansas and Michigan.

Dan Quadros, small ruminant specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the USDA had detected more than 200 cases of HPAI in wild mammals.

“Now, with these cases of livestock infected in multiple states, producers are very concerned because this is a rapidly evolving situation,” he said.

“Although apparently wild migratory birds are believed to be the source of infection, the possibility of HPAI transmission between cattle cannot be discarded,” Quadros said. “We need to raise awareness about HPAI to prevent it from happening in Arkansas. We are encouraging producers to minimize the movement of cattle, sheep and goats.”

Quadros shared the following guidance from the University of Minnesota Extension:

• Do not allow poultry and livestock species access to ponds, wetlands and other stagnant water sources frequented by wild waterfowl, such as ducks, geese or swans.

• Watch poultry and livestock for signs of illness, including reduced appetite, fever, inability to stand, depression, nasal discharge, diarrhea, coughing and change in behavior. 

• Consider housing poultry separately from other livestock species and minimize poultry access to pasture areas that are grazed by other livestock species.

• Do not allow poultry, waterfowl and wildlife to share water sources and feedstuffs with other livestock species.

• Unfortunately, current influenza vaccines used in horses are not effective against HPAI; always consult your veterinarian before administering vaccinations.

• Many cattle are vaccinated against Parainfluenza-3, a virus that can cause respiratory issues. Parainfluenza viruses are in a different family from influenza viruses and the PI-3 vaccine does not provide protection against influenza.

“We recommend that producers and consumers only drink pasteurized milk, consume dairy products made with pasteurized milk and cook meat to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, like influenza,” Quadros said. Safe temperatures include 145 °F for steaks, chops and roast; 160 °F for ground meat and 165 °F for poultry.

Producers experiencing any unexplained deaths in animals should consult a veterinarian or contact the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

The Division of Agriculture has biosecurity resources for flock owners.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Womack Hosts CDC Director Cohen in Arkansas’ Third District

Rogers, AR—April 9, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) hosted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen to Northwest Arkansas on Monday, April 8, to visit various partner organizations in the area, share the importance of strong investments in community health, and see the partnership between the CDC and local health care in action.

Congressman Womack said, “I was honored to welcome Dr. Cohen to Northwest Arkansas to showcase the excellence happening in our corner of the Natural State. As a senior appropriator, I see how federal investments through CDC grants foster economic growth, promote health, and enhance quality of life. I’m grateful Dr. Cohen had the opportunity to witness the incredible work of our local health providers in action.”

Dr. Cohen said, “CDC’s mission is to protect health and improve lives, and that requires a team. My visit to Northwest Arkansas highlighted partnerships across education, health care, local government, and private industry that can help us protect health. We need the resources and authorities to continue to sustain and build our team across the country and abroad, and I thank Representative Womack for his work here in Northwest Arkansas and in Congress to work with us to make that possible.”

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen toured the Bentonville Head Start and Early Head Start facility and engaged with UAMS Northwest and NWA Head Start staff involved in the implementation of REACH grant funding, which supported child nutrition initiatives, vaccine clinics, physical activity training, and breastfeeding rooms at Bentonville Head Start.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen were welcomed by Bentonville Schools’ staff and students and toured the Ignite Professional Studies facility. Following the tour, they engaged with 100 junior and senior students participating in the Ignite Professional Studies Program.

At Community Clinic NWA, Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen led a roundtable discussion on how CDC funding has been utilized in Northwest Arkansas by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and partner organizations. Rep. Womack, Dr. Cohen, Community Clinic CEO Judd Semingson, and Division Director of Community Programs (UAMS Northwest) Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., M.B.A. provided opening remarks. Healthcare organizations and members of Our Healthy Alliance also participated in the roundtable discussion.

Rep. Womack and Dr. Cohen also visited members of the Walmart Health team and toured the Walmart Emergency Operations Center and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

CDC’s funded work in Arkansas’ Third District:

• CDC’s REACH grant program provided funding to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for the 2023-2028 program cycle to continue implementing evidence-based strategies to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities among priority populations.

  • Partnerships funded through this program were previously used to reach Marshallese and Hispanic communities with health and vaccination information.

  • This program also supports work in education and early childhood programs to promote healthy environments, healthy eating, physical activity, and health education to prevent obesity and chronic disease.

• Arkansas Maternal and Perinatal Quality Outcomes Quality Review Committee—Perinatal Quality Collaboratives provide the infrastructure that supports quality improvement efforts addressing obstetric and newborn care and outcomes in a state or region. CDC currently funds 36 state PQCs, including Arkansas.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, were in Northwest Arkansas on Monday (April 8) to visit with regional health care officials.

(Talk Business & Politics) CDC director visits Northwest Arkansas, meets with local health leaders

Effects of ‘forever chemicals’ on agriculture topic of Oct. 18 NALC webinar

By Tru Joi Curtis
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are chemicals once widely used in food packaging, stain repellants for clothing, as well as automotive and aerospace applications. In recent years, PFAS have become better known for presenting an array of regulatory and environmental challenges for agriculture.

OFW Law Associate Kyla Kaplan, Roux Principal Ryan Stifter and Roux Principal Engineer Chase Gerbig will present the National Agricultural Law Center webinar on Oct. 18, highlighting challenges faced by agriculture due to PFAS contamination. NALC Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins will moderate.

Because their extremely strong molecular bonds keep them from breaking down easily, PFAS are often called “forever chemicals.” A 2015 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said PFAS could be found in the blood of 97 percent of Americans. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, their effects on health and the environment aren’t fully known.

PFAS contamination has hurt or closed scores of farms in Colorado, Maine, Michigan, and New Mexico.

In use since the 1950s, the Food and Drug Administration phased out use of PFAS for food packaging in 2016.

Since then, “various state and federal agencies have taken action to address PFAS,” OFW Law Associate Kyla Kaplan said. “It is important to understand the potential impacts of PFAS regulations on food manufacturers and farmers.”

Kaplan, Roux Principal Ryan Stifter and Roux Principal Engineer Chase Gerbig will discuss PFAS during NALC’s webinar, “Not Your Grandfather’s Corn Maze – Regulatory and Legal Responses to Challenges Faced by Agriculture Due to PFAS Contamination.” The webinar will be at 11 a.m. Central/noon Eastern on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

The speakers will cover:

• The basic chemistry of PFAS and how it intersects with agriculture

• Regulatory compliance challenges

• Types of PFAS litigation involving agriculture

• Potential consequences of contamination for property owners

“PFAS are often found in the environment,” Kaplan said. “While the data regarding the health impacts of PFAS is inconsistent, it is crucial that agricultural producers are aware of these chemicals. I am looking forward to sharing this important information alongside a talented panel.”

NALC Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins, an expert in environmental law as it pertains to agriculture, will moderate the webinar.

“PFAS are a complex and always-changing topic,” Rollins said. “With the potential health risks and the possible impacts they have on agriculture, producers will benefit greatly from the information provided in this webinar.”

The webinar is free of charge and registration is online.

“We are thrilled to have Kyla, Ryan and Chase discuss PFAS during this webinar,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “The topic of PFAS has had many recent developments, including new guidelines, legislation and studies, so the information provided will be extremely helpful to provide clarity on this issue.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture, which issues twice a month.

COVID cases expected to continue rising in Arkansas

KUAR | By David Monteith

BA.5, a subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19, is contributing to rising cases counts and hospitalizations in Arkansas.

That's according to Department of Health Director Dr. Jennifer Dillaha who says the subvariant was identified in two-thirds of the cases tested last week using genomic sequencing. BA.5 was first identified and labeled as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization in January.

Forecasting by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates the number of people hospitalized in the state is expected to continue rising for at least the next three weeks. Dillaha says there are several reasons this subvariant is being transmitted more rapidly.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-07-11/covid-cases-expected-to-continue-rising-in-arkansas

KUAR News

File photo of Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director of the Arkansas Department of Health.

Arkansas Pauses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

By ALEXANDRIA BROWN

Arkansas is among states pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports of people developing unusual blood clots. This comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced they were investigating six cases of women who developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. One death was reported among the women.

At his weekly press briefing Tuesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said while he respects the White House’s recommendation to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution, this doesn’t mean Arkansans should delay getting the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-pauses-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-0

Gov. Asa Hutchinson urged Arkansans on Tuesday to still get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines despite Johnson and Johnson distribution pause

CREDIT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE / YOUTUBE

Healthy School Guide Published for Opening Schools

State officials have published a 20-page “Healthy School Guide” they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 “in the healthiest way possible.”

The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Arkansas Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was produced in a collaborative effort between the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). (Link here for a PDF of the document.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/08/healthy-guide-published-for-opening-schools-covid-19-active-cases-decline-deaths-rise

'Healthy' guide published for opening schools; COVID-19 active cases decline, deaths rise - Talk Business & Politics

State officials have published a 20-page "Healthy School Guide" they say will help return hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and staff to more than 1,000 school facilities on Aug. 24 "in the healthiest way possible." The new guide includes the latest information from the U.S.