Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology

A ProMED-mail post (June 19, 2009)

Whether speaking of a 58-year-old man or a 38-year-old woman, or a little boy of 9, officials announcing swine flu deaths are almost always quick to note “underlying health  conditions” may have contributed to the fatal outcome. Asthma, heart disease, diabetes, maybe even obesity are among the conditions used to help explain why swine flu infection is hospitalizing and killing younger people, people who would be expected to make a full recovery from seasonal flu. Read the rest of this entry »

Background: Common to all fields of science and engaged scientists is their willingness to participate in the free exchange of ideas. This blog often posts such ideas in the form of existing citable scientific contributions and news items. In recent conversations among like-minded individuals regarding contemporary topics in livestock production agriculture and biotechnology, the issue of U.S. animal disease research was raised. No factor in livestock production can impact production efficiency and profitability more than a disease issue. And, in the case of a highly contagious foreign animal disease (FAD) where the U.S. would change from disease-free status to one of a FAD positive diagnosis, livestock production could be decimated in quick order. Read the rest of this entry »

A ProMED-mail post (May 28, 2009)

The following is [1] a statement of the research program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and [2] the outcome of a study of the cross-reactivity of serum samples from US pigs against the new swine origin 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (S/O H1N1). The results of this analysis indicate that pre-existing immunity induced by swine influenza viruses circulating in the US may not protect pigs against the new S/O H1N1 influenza virus presently circulating in people.

Read the rest of this entry »

Martin Enserink and Jocelyn Kaiser
Published in SCIENCE:  VOLUME 324:703-705,2009

If and when a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu hits, vaccines might be the world’s best hope for softening the blow. But major uncertainties cloud the prospects for vaccines against the new  strain. No pandemic vaccine yet exists, and it is unclear how much vaccine would have to be available, and by what time, to have any impact. Should manufacturers halt the production of seasonal influenza vaccine to focus on a pandemic version, and if so, when? And is there any way to ensure that people around the world have an equal chance to get the new vaccine? Read the rest of this entry »

From the World Health Organization

Assessing the Severity of an Influenza Pandemic

The major determinant of the severity of an influenza pandemic, as measured by the number of cases of severe illness and deaths it causes, is the inherent virulence of the virus. However, many other factors influence the overall severity of a pandemic’s impact. Read the rest of this entry »

Terry D. Etherton

A recent Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Media Release about the detection of A/H1N1 virus in pigs in Canada is presented below.  The release also was distributed by ProMED. Read the rest of this entry »

Bob Mikesell, Ph.D.
Senior Instructor
Department of Dairy and Animal Science

Introduction

In light of the H1N1 (formerly known as swine flu) virus outbreak, consumers should have an understanding of the influenza virus from a pork producer perspective, and the steps that US swine producers routinely utilize to keep pigs healthy. Read the rest of this entry »

William Henning
Emeritus Professor of Animal and Food Science
Penn State University

Dr. Henning had a letter posted in USA Today combating myths about beef and global warming.

Here is Dr. Henning’s letter. Read the rest of this entry »

Jacob Werner, VMD
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Dairy and Animal Science,
Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals and Wildlife, Animal Resource Program
Penn State University

With the media reporting increased numbers of swine flu cases daily, it is time for the swine industry to maintain and, perhaps, expand the strict biosecurity procedures already in place. Read the rest of this entry »

Terry D. Etherton

As readers of my blog have observed, I have not posted a blog for a few months.  About all that could be written about the battle over application of rbST in the dairy industry in the United States, and defending the freedom of dairy farmers to use safe and effective technologies has been discussed.  The stories currently being written by opponents of this biotechnology are simply a rehash of a rehash…nothing new.  This all has been chronicled in Terry Etherton Blog on Biotechnology. Read the rest of this entry »