House subcommittee holds hearing to evaluate the federal, state responses to avian influenza

The House Livestock and Foreign Agriculture subcommittee on Thursday hosted a hearing to discuss the federal and state response to avian influenza. Speakers included Dr. John Clifford of USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Dr. David Swayne from USDA Agricultural Research Services (ARS), Dr. Douglas Meckes from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Dr. Bill Hartman from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.  Dr. Clifford discussed the September trip USDA officials will make to China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to discuss the possible use of vaccines should another outbreak occur. The USDA has a vaccine that it says works 100 percent for chickens and they should receive efficacy data for turkeys in a few weeks.  Read More