2nd-grade hand hygiene experiment reduces school absenteeism by 71%.

2nd-grade hand hygiene experiment reduces school absenteeism by 71%.The CDC has described hand-washing as a “do-it-yourself” vaccine. Researchers here showed how it can prevent absenteeism due to illness among elementary school students. According to findings presented at IDWeek, school absences plummeted 71% among second graders at a Virginia elementary school after researchers taught the students how to properly wash their hands, then culture them to detect microbial growth.

Ebola vaccines elicit yearlong immune response in Liberia trial.

Ebola vaccines elicit yearlong immune response in Liberia trial. Two candidate Ebola virus vaccines elicited immune responses that were mostly maintained through 1 year in a large clinical trial in Liberia, according to findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The trial, which took place during the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic, evaluated the performance of two vaccines developed in the United States and Canada. One of the two vaccines — rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP (Merck) — was 100% effective at preventing Ebola in an earlier trial in Guinea. The vaccine was also used during a flare-up of Ebola in Guinea last year — the first time an Ebola vaccine has ever been used in an outbreak setting outside a clinical trial. The vaccine was approved for use during a recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but was not needed. Ebola

Locally tailored public health messages dispel Ebola myths in Sierra Leone.

Locally tailored public health messages dispel Ebola myths in Sierra Leone. A two-way channel of communication, appointing community leaders as messengers and communication in local dialects were all instrumental in dispelling misconceptions about Ebola virus in Sierra Leone during the West African epidemic, study data showed. Denials of the seriousness of Ebola virus infection, as well as conspiracy theories suggesting that the outbreak had been created by either Sierra Leone’s government or western governments, were common at the beginning of the epidemic,

CDC offers updated guidance on screening, caring for newborns exposed to Zika.

CDC offers updated guidance on screening, caring for newborns exposed to Zika. The CDC recently updated its interim clinical guidance for infants born to mothers with possible Zika virus exposure, emphasizing the importance of a team-based approach, with close communication between obstetrical and pediatric care providers. This updated guidance provides instruction for three scenarios of potential maternal Zika exposure: Infants with clinical findings consistent with congenital Zika syndrome born to mothers possibly exposed to Zika; infants without clinical findings of Zika syndrome born to mothers with laboratory evidence of Zika infection; infants without clinical findings of Zika syndrome born to mothers with no laboratory evidence of Zika infection. ZIKA

Telecommunication: Northern Ireland launches avian flu text alert service.

Northern Ireland launches avian flu text alert service.New service designed to inform poultry keepers of disease outbreaks.

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a new text alert service to inform poultry producers of any disease outbreaks. 

 The new system ‘goes live’ as Northern Ireland Chief Veterinary Officer for Robert Huey urges farmers and other bird keepers to remain vigilant to the threat of avian influenza as the migratory cycle begins.

Be vigilant about avian flu as bird migrations begin.

Be vigilant about avian flu as bird migrations begin.USDA chief veterinary officer advises closely monitoring flocks and using good biosecurity measures.Poultry producers in the United States are being advised to be on the lookout for signs of avian influenza as wild birds are beginning their fall migrations. Dr. Jack Shere, USDA chief veterinary officer and deputy administrator for Veterinary Services, said poultry farmers are at risk as wild ducks and geese that could be carrying the avian influenza virus are flying south for the winter. “Look to see if there’s any reduction in feed consumption, any decrease in egg production, any birds that just don’t act right that seem weak or separate themselves or just don’t act like they normally do,” Shere said. “Those are signs that things are different in the flock and they should do what they can to get that flock tested.” Avian

Africa attracts poultry investors’ interest.

Africa attracts poultry investors’ interest. Rabobank identifies African poultry sector as a market with potential for good returns on investment. While much of the investment in the growing global poultry sector has gone to Europe, the Americas and Asia, it may soon be Africa’s turn to attract investors, according to a new report from RaboResearch, the research arm of Rabobank. Annual growth in the global demand for poultry is well known to be growing rapidly – at a rate of more than 60 percent over the coming two decades. And the report, titled ‘Time for Africa: Capturing the African Poultry Investment Opportunity,’ indicates that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for poultry meat and eggs will be 5.5 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, in African countries. These rates exceed those for the animal protein sector generally, and for other meats. African poultry sector offers potential for good returns on investment Rabobank Senior Animal Protein Analyst, Nan-Dirk Mulder, says the demand for poultry products is driven in Africa, as elsewhere, by the shift of the rural population to cities, and a growing middle class. Poultry and eggs are relatively affordable and available as people shift away for vegetable-only diets, and consumers in Africa prefer poultry to other meats. From the farmer’s point of view, poultry enterprises are comparatively easy to start and to expand, thanks to the short payback times. And for feed producers that supply the poultry farmers, Mulder says that several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have the potential to increase the cultivation of crops for animal feeds – an important consideration as 70 percent of total production costs for broilers and eggs are attributable to nutrition. Poultry.