First case of BSE in Brazil may be atypical

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is reporting the first case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Brazil and says that it "may be atypical". The affected animal was a beef breeding cow of almost 13 years of age at the time of death (December 2010).

Brazil is still recognized by the OIE as having a negligible BSE risk in accordance with Chapter 11.5. of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

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New members

Having attended the latest TAFS meeting as guests, Prof. Franz Rubel and Assist.-Prof. Katharina Brugger have decided to become members of the TAFS forum. They are both working at the Biometeorology & Mathematical Epidemiology Group, Institute for Veterinary Public Health at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria and are specialists in the epidemiology and modelling of mosquito-borne diseases.

Welcome!

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Livestock falling ill in fracking regions

A news article published by NBC News reports on suspected toxicological effects of chemicals used by the petrol industry for 'fracking'. Available data are insufficient for proper risk assessment. The issue involves livestock, humans, and the environment and hence calls for a 'One Health' approach.

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