Rare strain of E. coli strikes across Canada: source unknown.

A dozen cases of E. coli O121 have been confirmed in three Canadian provinces, according to matching genetic fingerprint data, but the source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports four of the rare O121 cases were confirmed in British Columbia, four in Saskatchewan and four in Newfoundland and Labrador. The illness onset dates were in November and December of 2016. Four of the victims have been hospitalized. Those individuals have recovered or are in the process of recovery. An investigation to determine the source of the relatively rare E. coli O121 contamination is ongoing. The Public Health Agency of Canada says improper handling of ground meat and eating raw ground meat are two of the most common sources of E. coli illnesses. Other common sources are contaminated raw fruits and vegetables, untreated water, unpasteurized raw milk and raw milk products, and unpasteurized apples juices or cider. Young children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk of E. coli infections, but everyone is susceptible. Cooking food properly and following other food safety tips can greatly reduce the chance of infection. Public health officials recommend using the a cooking thermometer, washing fruits and vegetables, and cooking meat to suggested temperatures. Severe stomach cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and headache with little or no verer are all symptoms of E. coli infection. Most of the time, symptoms will clear up in five to 10 days. However, sometimes serious conditions develop, including kidney failure. source

Frozen turkey dog food recalled for Listeria; people also at risk.

Blue Ridge Beef is recalling its frozen, raw turkey pet food from retailers in four states because it a poses a danger to people and their animals because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. “This recall was initiated with FDA inspection and sampling of the product,” according to the company’s recall notice posted on the Food and Drug ADministration’s website.“Listeria can affect animals eating the product and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surface exposed to these products.”continue

The best ways to prepare for a new pet.

Perhaps you have wanted a dog for years and finally have the time to bring one into your home. Maybe a kitten appeared on your doorstep and you suddenly found yourself a new pet owner. Perhaps the kids were begging for a puppy and you finally decided to adopt. Whatever the reason, the decision to adopt a pet can be both an exciting and stressful time, as you carefully consider which animal is right for you. irst, you have to decide what type of pet is right for you. Cat, dog, or exotic animal? Active or laid back? Young or adult? You also have to consider all of the financial demands that come with pet ownership, including veterinary visits, emergency funds or insurance, training, and supplies.continue

Kenya, Rwanda ban poultry from Uganda over bird flu.

Kenya, Rwanda ban poultry from Uganda over bird flu.Kenyan and Rwandan authorities said Wednesday they had banned poultry products from neighbouring Uganda, where a virulent H5 strain of avian flu has broken out. "The government banned importation of poultry and poultry products from Uganda with immediate effect," said Kenya's agriculture cabinet secretary Willy Bett at a press conference. The move from Nairobi comes two days after Rwanda also blocked poultry imports. "Rwanda has put in place measures to prevent the disease. We have temporarily halted the import of poultry and poultry products," Christine Kanyandekwe from the country's agricultural department said Wednesday.continue

Senegal troops move to Gambia border as Jammeh crisis grows.

Senegal troops move to Gambia border as Jammeh crisis grows. Senegalese troops have been seen moving towards the Gambian border in a show of force to pressure President Yahya Jammeh to stand down. Senegal gave him a midnight GMT deadline to quit and Nigeria has sent an air force contingent to Senegal in support of the possible intervention.Wednesday was meant to be his last day in office but parliament has granted him three more months in the post. It effectively stops successor Adama Barrow being sworn in on Thursday. His shock victory in the 1 December election plunged The Gambia into crisis. Mr Barrow is currently in Senegal.West African countries are seeking UN backing to intervene militarily to eject Mr Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994. Meanwhile, thousands of UK and Dutch tourists are being evacuated from the tiny West African state, which is popular with European holidaymakers because of its beaches.source

Hong Kong adds to avian flu blocked list

Hong Kong adds to avian flu blocked list: Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has banned the imports of poultry meat and products from Egypt, the Odessa and Chernivtsi Oblasts in Ukraine and the Klodzki and Krakowski districts of Poland following recorded outbreaks of H5N8 avian influenza.

Shaking piglets and atypical porcine pestivirus.(APPV)

A new study has shown that shaking in new born piglets is not a sign of cold but of a previously unidentified virus. Symptoms of tremors and shaking in newborn piglets are not a sign that the animals are cold, but rather that they are suffering from a specific viral infection. Researchers at Vetmeduni Vienna have now been able to prove this correlation for the first time using a newly developed test have now been able to prove this correlation for the first time using a newly developed test. The scientists detected a previously unknown virus, termed atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV), in “shaking piglets”, making it possible to clearly diagnose the potentially fatal disease. This virus remains in the animals for a long time following an infection and may also be transmitted sexually,these findings were published in the journal Veterinary Research. The researchers used genome sequencing data to identify the virus,the pathogen, which belongs to the atypical porcine pestiviruses (APPV), was detected in diseased animals at Austrian farms using a specially developed test. Congenital tremors may be life-threatening and presents a challenge for the piglets ,the tremor can sometimes be so severe that the piglet is unable to properly suckle milk. Suckling is important for piglets in the first 24 hours after birth as only the sow's milk contains everything the piglet needs to survive and without the first drink of milk, piglets have a very low chance of survival. Piglets that survive the first phase, usually symptoms subside after three or four weeks but in rare cases, a slight tremor remains in the ears. A mortality rate of up to 30 percent is possible among affected piglets,thus identifying the causative agent is a diagnostic breakthrough. Detection is possible using the usual molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction.The detection procedure not only confirmed the presence of the virus in high numbers in the diseased piglets but also in the saliva and semen of mature pigs. The presence of the virus in the semen gives a clue as to mode of transmission ,but the virus is likely transmitted to the piglet at a stage of gestation when the central nervous system is developing, as indicated by changes in nerve fibres.