October / December 2015 Veterinary Views Newsletter

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NVMA Awards Nominations Sought; Deadline Is December 15

Nebraska has many veterinarians and others in the veterinary medical field that are extraordinary in their positive contributions to the profession. The NVMA honors such people each year at the annual meeting and banquet at the convention in January. The NVMA Awards Committee is taking nominations for the following categories:

VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR 
This award goes to a NVMA member who has contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine in the State of Nebraska with special accomplishments. Service to the State Association and profession, Service to community, Service to family and other responsibilities.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
This award recognizes an individual, who has contributed outstanding service to the advancement of veterinary medicine in all aspects of the profession. The individual need not be a veterinarian, however, veterinarians are not excluded from being eligible.

COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR 
This award recognizes a representative from a company that has provided outstanding support to veterinary medicine in Nebraska during the current year.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR 
This award goes to an NVMA member that has graduated in the last seven years, who has contributed outstanding service to the veterinary profession, service to community, church, family, state and national organizations.

OUTSTANDING LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR 
This award recognizes a NVMA licensed veterinary technician member who graduated from a recognized Veterinary Technician school and has at least 5 years work experience in the profession, or trained in the veterinary practice and has at least 10 years experience as a licensed veterinary technician. Consideration should be given to all aspects of licensed veterinary technician responsibilities as well as service to community, church and state organizations.

Please have at least one letter of support submitted with your nomination.

Click here to find a downloadable nomination form.

Nomination deadline is December 15, 2015

Call for Volunteers: AABP Ethics in Cattle Practice Task Force

Issues affecting the practice of veterinary medicine in the cattle industry are constantly changing. Practices which were once considered ethical might be viewed differently as the profession encounters societal change over time. In order to assist AABP members to practice in an ethical manner and navigate changing issues within practice, in 2015 the AABP Board of Directors voted to establish an Ethics in Cattle Practice Task Force to provide a recommendation to the Board regarding issues and ethics in cattle practice.

The specific charges of the Task Force will be to review the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics and determine if additional guidance is needed specific to bovine practice; and make a recommendation to the AABP Board of Directors on topics/areas of veterinary medical ethics that are specific to bovine practice to develop a bovine specific Veterinary Medical Ethics guidelines.

The Board is currently seeking volunteers who are willing to serve on this task force. If you are interested and willing to serve on this important task force, please contact Dr. Gatz Riddell mgriddell@aabp.org. The AABP Executive Committee will review the list of names of those members who indicate interest and will create this task force. The deadline for submitting names will be November 30, 2015.

Latest Vesicular Stomatitis Report as of 11/17/2015

Here is the latest Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) Situation Report from the office of the Nebraska State Veterinarian, Dennis Hughes, DVM.

One of the suspect premises from last week was VSV negative, but EHD positive.  That is why the Grand total went from 38 to 37 cases, and 10 counties to nine counties.  One Equine Premises in Red Willow County is still under quarantine.  This premises is being inspected for quarantine release on 11/18/2015.

All other quarantines for confirmed positive and suspect premises have been released. 

There are no pending investigations awaiting lab results.

NEBRASKA VSV Situation Report
11/17/2015
CUMMULATIVE POSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS
	Bovine		Equine			Grand Total
County	Confirmed Positive VSV Premises.	Total	Confirmed Positive VSV Premises.	Suspect Premises	Total
BANNER			1		1	1
GARDEN			1	1	2	2
LINCOLN	1	1	1		1	2
LOUP	1	1				1
MORRILL	2	2				2
RED WILLOW			1		1	1
SCOTTS BLUFF	5	5	8	13	21	26
SHERIDAN	1	1				1
SIOUX			1		1	1
Grand Total	10	10	13	14	27	37
CURRENT POSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS
	Equine		Grand Total
County	Confirmed Positive VSV Premises.	Total
RED WILLOW	1	1	1
Grand Total	1	1	1
QUARANTINES RELEASED  (POSTIVIE AND SUSPECT INVESTIGATIONS)
	Bovine		Equine			Grand Total
County	Confirmed Positive VSV Premises.	Total	Confirmed Positive VSV Premises.	Suspect Premises	Total
BANNER			1		1	1
GARDEN			1	1	2	2
LINCOLN	1	1	1		1	2
LOUP	1	1				1
MORRILL	2	2				2
SCOTTS BLUFF	5	5	8	13	21	26
SHERIDAN	1	1				1
SIOUX			1		1	1
Grand Total	10	10	12	14	26	36

Latest Insights Into Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Exclusive to the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association blog is a 12-minute video update from Nebraska State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes, DVM, on the topic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Dr. Hughes is leading efforts to ensure that producers and veterinarians know the steps they can take to quickly detect and report suspected HPAI. The most obvious sign is a sudden increase in mortality in a flock. If you're aware of an incident like that, call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2351 and/or the USDA (402) 434-2300.

Here is the video update:

Nebraska Cattlemen Issues Alert Regarding Animal Activists

Here is an alert for members of Nebraska Cattlemen and other interested parties: 

We are hearing reports of increased animal activist presence in south-central Nebraska generally, but around USMARC specifically. It's unclear if these instances are related to meetings taking place at USMARC this week. We wanted to make all our members aware as activity might migrate around the state. There has been drone and helicopters observed along with increased road traffic. There has also been reported trespassing in livestock operations. Read more.

Latest Vesicular Stomatitis Update

The latest situation report on Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Nebraska from State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes, DVM: Two new counties are affected – Sheridan and Loup. Both are bovine cases. There are two current quarantines on positive premises (Sheridan and Loup). And there are two current quarantines on investigations with pending lab results (Red Willow and Adams).

Click here to view the complete report.

Register Now for 120th Annual Convention on January 21-23 in Kearney

Younes Conference Center

The Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association's 120th Annual Convention is scheduled for January 21 - 23, 2016 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska.

Make your plans now to attend! 

Here are links to your Conference Brochure and Registration Form:

DOWNLOADABLE ANNUAL CONFERENCE BROCHURE

FILLABLE/DOWNLOADABLE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTER ONLINE (Using this Eventbrite Link incurs additional fees)

The clippable and socially shareable ISSUU version of the Conference Brochure is available by clicking here.