Screw worm alert!

"The Veterinary Services (VS) program of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are asking veterinary practitioners, farmers, ranchers and animal owners in Florida to be on the lookout for screwworm. Screwworm is the common name of a pest native to the tropical areas of North, South and Central America that causes extensive damage to domestic livestock and other warm blooded animals. The larvae of these pests feed on the raw flesh of the host animal"

from cnn:

ATLANTA (AP) -- Taking pets on vacation is getting tougher and more expensive for those who plan to fly this summer. With new federal rules requiring airlines to disclose the number of animals killed or injured on flights, major carriers are refusing to allow pets to be checked as baggage because of dangerous heat in cramped cargo holds.

Two More Cases Of EEE Confirmed In Virginia
The USDA National Veterinary Services laboratory in Ames, Iowa has confirmed that two more horses submitted for testing by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). These horses, one from Suffolk and one from Prince George County, were submitted for testing on August 3rd. Another horse from the Suffolk area was submitted for necropsy on August 7th and testing is currently underway.
This makes a total of nine horses submitted to the laboratory with five confirmed by virus isolation as EEE, two more with compatible histologic brain lesions but no virus isolation confirmation, one with no histologic lesions and no virus isolation confirmation, and one just starting the diagnostic process.
The Department began an informational campaign two weeks ago advising horse owners to vaccinate their animals every six to twelve months against the disease. This is particularly important in the Southeastern region of Virginia, where they recommended the six-month vaccination interval. None of the horses that have died had been vaccinated within the last year. Veterinarians report that the publicity generated by the outbreak has spurred vaccination efforts by owners.
Generally, EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes. Typical symptoms include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite and sometimes fever and blindness. There is no cure for the disease, but it can be prevented through vaccination. Other prevention methods include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents such as DEET, and removing animals from mosquito infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.
Article from: The Horse Interactive

Florida Gears Up For West Nile
from: Up Front, June 2000
Seasoned with the experience of handling Eastern encephalitis (EE, formerly known as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) outbreaks, the state of Florida is preparing a strong defensive line to protect its citizens, both horses and humans, against West Nile virus (WNV). While there is no evidence WNV has reached Florida, officials want to be prepared when and if it happens.
WNV is a type of mosquito-borne encephalitis that first appeared in the Western Hemisphere in the late summer and early fall of 1999. The disease caused illness and death in humans and horses in New York last year. Verification that the virus survived the winter came when it was found in adult mosquitoes in Queens, N.Y., during January and February of this year, and in a dead red-tailed hawk in Bronxville, N.Y., in February (see The Horse of May 2000). Because it can be carried by migratory birds, WNV might invade Florida this year.
In response to the threat, state officials held an Interagency West Nile Virus Response Planning Meeting on April 18 in Gainesville, Fla. Representatives from local and state government—as well as anyone interested in the topic of WNV—were invited. A segment of the agenda devoted to equine response considerations to WNV was presented by William Jeter, DVM, Assistant Chief, Animal Disease Control of the Florida Division of Animal Industry.
“We’re taking it very seriously,” said Jeter. “We’re a few steps ahead by having an excellent working relationship with the Department of Health (DOH), which has helped us to be far ahead of most other states. West Nile has been a catalyst to form partnerships (with the Department of Health, mosquito surveillance groups, and other agencies). By pooling resources, we accomplish more than by working on our own.”
Nineteen states or jurisdictions have requested and received funds from the Federal government for the fiscal year 2000 for enhanced WNV surveillance and control. The total appropriation was $2.9 million. Florida has stepped up surveillance for the disease and communication between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health, Division of Animal Industry and Division of Agricultural Environmental Sciences (both part of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services—DOACS), veterinarians, various laboratories, health care providers, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Public Health Entomology Research and Education Center.
excerpt from The Horse Interacitve and The Bloodhorse

From the Florida State Veterinarian:

"While West Nile Virus has not been identified in Florida, people are encouraged to take basic precautions to help limit their exposure to mosquitoes and prevent encephalitis. Even if West Nile Virus does not come to Florida, we will still have a risk of infections with St. Louis Encephalitis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis." Health care providers and laboratories are required to report all suspect or confirmed cases of arbovirus encephalitis and malaria to their county health department. As a service to health care providers, the DOH Laboratory offers arbovirus (e.g., SLE, EEE, dengue and WNV) and malaria testing for patients with appropriate symptoms. Arbovirus infections in people can cause headache, fever, dizziness, confusion, abnormal movements and coma. The U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team recently moved their May 2000 dressage trials from New Jersey to Florida because some European countries are moving to place import restrictions on horses going into Europe from West Nile Virus affected areas. The top four horses will compete in Europe early this summer before heading to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia in September. Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Crawford said: "Horses are particularly susceptible to some strains of encephalitis, and with the movement of horses this time of year into and out of Florida, we want all horse owners to be extra vigilant in taking protective measures against possible outbreaks of Eastern equine encephalitis or West Nile virus." He added: "While we remain vigilant to detect these diseases, I urge everyone to help eliminate mosquito breeding sites and protect themselves and their animals from exposure to mosquitoes as much as possible." Crawford urged horse owners to make sure that their animals are vaccinated against Eastern equine encephalitis and to watch for and report any signs of neurologic illness to their veterinarian.
from The Division of Animal Industry, Encephalitis information page.