May 2004

Newsletter

USAHAProtecting Animal and Public Health Since 1897

United States Animal Health Association Newsletter - Vol. 31, No. 2, May 2004

USAHAProtecting Animal and Public Health Since 1897

8100 Three Chopt Road, Suite 203, P.O. Box K227, Richmond, VA 23229* (804) 285-3210 office; (804) 285-3367 fax; www. usaha. org

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U.S. ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATIONMEETS WITH AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

USAHA GovernmentRelations Committee inWashington, D.C.Discussions revolvedaroundsurveillance for diseases oflivestockandpoultry, animalidentification, and theenhancementof theNationalAnimal Health LaboratoryNetwork (NAHLN). Other

RICHMOND, VA, Feb.12, 2004 - AgricultureSecretaryAnnVenemanmetwith officials of the UnitedStates Animal HealthAssociation(USAHA)andtheAmerican Association ofVeterinary LaboratoryDiagnosticians (AAVLD)yesterday in conjunctionwiththe annual meeting of the

Report from the Special Committee toReview the Implementation of the1997 USAHALong-Range PlanDr. Richard McCapes

Thisshall serveas thereport of the specialcommittee appointedbyPresident Bob Frost inJune2003, to review theimplementation of the1997 United StatesAnimalHealthAssociation (USAHA)Long Range Plan (LRP). PresidentFrost�s charge to this committee wasto focus primarily on where theAssociation is relative to theimplementationof the threeobjectivesidentified in the LRP.The committee

met by conference call on September25, 2003 to discuss your charge to thecommitteeand to reviewdocumentationof previous strategic planning efforts.Included in our review was the�Comprehensive Review of USAHAStrategic (Long Range) Plan, 1992 to2003� prepared byFirstVice PresidentRick Willer in June 2003. TheComprehensiveReviewispostedon theUSAHAwebsite. The committeemetagain on October 11-12, 2003, tofurther discuss the issues and topreparethis report.The results of our revieware

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VenemanAnnouncedFramework andFunding forNAISAgricultureSecretaryAnnVeneman

announces the framework forimplementation of aNationalAnimalIdentificationSystem(NAIS)designedto identify any agricultural premisesexposed to a foreign animal disease sothat it can bemore quickly containedand eradicated.Veneman also announced that

$18.8millionwouldbe transferredfromthe USDA Commodity CreditCorporation (CCC) to provide initialfunding for the program during fiscalyear 2004.�Whilemanylivestockspecies in the

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Dr. RichardMcCapes

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Presidents, sevencommitteechairs, andAVMA�s USAHA liaison were inattendance. Ahighlight of themeetingwas the visit with SecretaryVenemanwhere themain issues of BSE, animalidentification, the National AnimalHealth Laboratory Network andforeignanimaldiseasesurveillancewerediscussed. Wemet with several otherfederal agency officials andrepresentatives from the AnimalAgriculture Coalition, AVMAGovernmentRelations, theAssociation

of the American Veterinary MedicalColleges and the InternationalAssociation of Fish and WildlifeAgencies.I attended theannualUSDA,APHIS

Wildlife ServicesRabies CooperatorsMeeting at the Centers for DiseaseControl inAtlanta, GA, onMarch 30-April 3. Excellent presentations on allaspects of wildlife rabies vaccinationwere delivered and several workinggroupson all aspects of the subjectmetand discussed the strategies to controlandeliminate strainsof terrestrial rabiesin theUnited States. Eastern seaboardraccoon rabies, Texas coyote and greyfox rabies andCalifornia skunk rabiesvaccination projects were discussed.Research on new wildlife oral rabies

USAHA is workingclosely with variousorganizations andgovernmentagencies to keep allof its members up-to-date on the latestdevelopments. . .

President�s Corner

Don LeinThis spring continueswith a hectic

pace for USAHA. The ExecutiveCommittee has been busy withnumerousmeetingsandconferencecallsincludingourmonthlyconferencecalls,the informational conferencecallswithUSDA-APHIS-VS and the NationalAssembly of State Animal HealthOfficials,AnimalAgriculturalCoalition,and USAHA subcommittees andspecialworkinggroups.At the National Cattlemen�s Beef

Association�s (NCBA)annualmeetingin Phoenix, Arizona, Jan. 27-31, wemet with several state veterinarians,leaders fromUSDA/APHIS/VS, JohnAdams of National Milk ProducersFederation andGaryWeber ofNCBAtodiscuss recent setbacks in thebovinetuberculosis eradication programincluding continuing threats fromMexican steers and theTBproblem inMichigan. A subcommittee wasestablished to review theComprehensive Strategic Plan for theEradication of Bovine Tuberculosis(2000), update that strategy anddevelop funding recommendations forFY 2006. The subcommitteerecommendations will be furtherdiscussed at the 108thAnnualMeetinginGreensboro, NC.I want to thank the working group

that studiedenhancedBSEsurveillancefollowing the announcement bySecretary Veneman excluding non-ambulatorycattle fromslaughter. Ihopethe exercisewashelpful in formulatingstate surveillance programs. USAHAwill continue to work closely withUSDA, states and the cattle industry tomake this programsuccessful.BretMarsh, chair of the committee

onGovernmentRelations,organizedanexcellentmeeting inWashington,DC.(Feb. 7-12). In addition to theExecutiveCommitteesofUSAHAandAAVLD, USAHA�s five District

vaccines using the human adenovirus(Ontario, Canada) and the canineadenovirus (Jefferson Univ.,Philadelphia, PA) as carrier viruses forDNA recombinant rabies vaccineswere updated. Several projects onbaittypes and uptake by small rodents arebeing performed in the field and at thenew Wildlife Research Center ofUSDA-APHIS-VS in Fort Collins,CO. The potential for conversion ofthe vaccinia recombinantDNA rabiesvaccine to infect small rodents andcreate an orthopox reservoir is beingstudied. This year thewestern raccoonoral rabies vaccination barrier of theUnitedStates should be completewiththe extension of the barrier fromTennessee through Alabama to thesouthwest corner ofGeorgia.I�ve had the pleasure, along with

President-Elect RickWiller, to attendall four of the regional USAHAmeetings. It was an excellent time tocontinue to study several of the currentissues and hold discussionswith stateand federal agencies and industry. HottopicsincludedBSEsurveillance,animalidentification,bovinetuberculosis,avianinfluenzaandexoticNewcastlediseasesurveillance. Allfourmeetingswerewellattended, and Iwant to thank all of thehosts for their invitations andexcellentprograms. Thesemeetings provide anexcellent forumforcontinuingUSAHAbusiness and developing newresolutions throughout theyear. I hopewehavestimulatedsomenewmembersfrom thesemeetings. Wedistributed anumber ofmembership brochures andpast newsletter editions.Iwant to thank JohnSmith, chair of

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President Elect�s Corner

At the risk of being repetitive,committees are the backbone of theAssociation. Over the past year,committee chairs have been asked toactively participate in addressingUSAHAissues. Acase in pointwouldbe the formation of a specialsubcommittee by the chair of thecommittee onTuberculosis. PresidentLein and I askedDr.ChuckMassengillto form this subcommittee in order toreviewand revise the strategic plan forthe elimination of tuberculosis. That�goal� (December 2003)wasmissed,and with recent setbacks in severalstates that previously had attained freestatus, itwas time to gather the expertstogether and come up withrecommendations for enhancement ofthis nation�s eradication program. Weappreciate the efforts of all committeemembersandUSDAtechnicaladvisorsthat haveparticipated in thisgroup, andare especially grateful for APHIS�willingness tosupportDr.BillyJohnsonas facilitator. Other committee chairshave been asked for input on variousissues includingproposed rules, andwewill continue to call on them toprovideinput on the complex animal healthissues confronting our nation�sagricultural animal resources.My committee chair

�communication initiative� continues.The fourthupdate inacontinuingseriesI initiated right after the 2003 annualmeetingwas sent out to all chairs at theend ofMarch. I suggested that chairspass that information on to theircommitteemembers.YourExecutiveCommitteehasbeen

working on another communicationinitiative. While not necessarilyProgram Committee-related, theExecutiveCommittee isexploringwaysto not only improve our website, butalso ways to capture and distribute

currentanimalhealthinformation. Aftera short time of �beta testing� onmembersof theExecutiveCommittee,we have expanded the distribution oftheUSAHAinformation�alerts� to theentire Board of Directors andcommittee chairs. Chairs have beenasked for key words useful in theircommitteework,andwewillbeaddingthemtoour information�mining�overthe next few weeks. This will likelyexpand the length of the news alerts.Feedback on its usefulness isencouraged. Onceweare satisfied thatthis typeof information is of use toourmembership, theExecutiveCommitteewill address costs associated withcontinuing on a long term basis. Ourgoal would be to send the alerts to allUSAHAmembers thathaveelectronicmail capability. This is just onemoreway that yourExecutiveCommittee isworking to provide membershipservices throughout theyear, aswell asensuring USAHA�s �year-roundpresence.�Planning activities continue for the

2004meeting inGreensboro,NC. Dr.Gary Osweiller (President-ElectAAVLD) and I have set a direction fortheMonday Plenary Session and arebeginning to line up presenters. Ourfocus relates to the importance ofsurveillance in disease prevention andrapid identificationof animal diseases,including those that are zoonotic. Wehope to include an international flavorto the topic, aswell.As part of the annual meeting

planning process, a call for committeescientific papers was sent out to allcommittee chairs about mid-March.Because the Wednesday afternoonUSAHA scientific session has beeneliminated, AAVLD has agreed toinclude any of those USAHAcommittee scientific papers in their

SaturdayandSundayscientific sessions.Thiswill enableUSAHAcommittees tocontinue to submit two committeescientific papers for inclusion in theannualmeeting;onepresentedduringtheUSAHA committee meeting and theother at anAAVLD scientific session.Both paperswill still be included in theannualProceedings.With that, Iwant topersonally thank

all committee chairs for their past andfuture efforts. Your hard work isappreciated.

RickWiller

On-LineRegistration

for 108th AnnualMeeting

Youmaynowregister on-line forUSAHA/AAVLD�sAnnualMeetingOctober 21-27, 2004 and payregistration fees and dueswith yourVisa orMaster credit card.There are several ways to access

theon-line registrationonUSAHA�sweb site (www.usaha.org):� Click on �What�s NewOnTheUSAHAWeb�andpick the firstoption (108th Annual MeetingInformation).

� Or you may also click on�Meetings�and then click on�Greensboro�.

� A third option to access on-lineregistration isbyselecting�2004MeetingInformation�Pre-Regisrtration cutoff date is

September 17th.

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Secretary�s Corner

Annual MeetingGreensboro, North Carolina, October 21-28, 2004

J. Lee Alley

In an effort to reduce the annualmeetingbyone full dayand to increasethe efficiency of the meeting, we areplanning several major schedulechanges. The Wednesday afternoon(October27)USAHAscientific sessionwillbeeliminated.Thescientificpapersnormally presented during theWednesday afternoon sessionwill beintegrated into the agendaof oneof theAAVLDPlenaryorScientificSessionson Saturday (October 23) or Sunday(October 24).The National Assembly of State

Animal Health Officials will meet onSaturdayafternoon (October23) ratherthanSundaymorning(October24).TheRegional Breakfast meetings will beSundaymorning (October 24) rather

than Tuesday morning (October 26).The Prayer Breakfast will continue tobe Sunday morning (October 24).Committee meetings will be Sundayafternoon (October 24), Mondayafternoon (October 25), Tuesdaymorning and afternoon (October 26)andWednesdaymorning (October27).Changes incommitteemeetingdayandtime are being proposed. A tentativeagenda for theGreensboromeetingwillbe posted on the USAHA web site.This agenda shows the proposedschedule changes for committeemeetings.TheUSAHA/AAVLDPresident�s

Reception will remain on Sundayevening(October24).TheJointPlenarySession will be on Monday morning

(October 25).TheUSAHABoardofDirectorswill

bemeeting in the afternoonsMonday(October 25), Tuesday (October 26)and Wednesday (October 27). TheBusiness Meeting will remain onMonday morning (October 25) andWednesday afternoon (October 26).The Executive Committee will be

meeting onFriday afternoon (October22) and Thursday morning (October28).TheExecutiveCommitteemeetingon Thursday (October 28) will be theonly scheduled USAHA function onThursday.Please review the tentative agenda

on the web atwww.usaha.org. Let usknow as soon as possible if you seeproblemswith theseproposedschedulechanges for 2004.

Bethany Jones (202) 734-2511 Ed Curlett (301) 734-7799

CLIFFORD NAMED VETERINARY SERVICES DEPUTYADMINISTRATOR

News Release

WASHINGTON,May19, 2004�John R. Clifford, DVM, has beennamed deputy administrator of theveterinary servicesprogram in theU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture�sAnimalandPlantHealth InspectionService.�John�s leadership skills and

experience are awelcome addition toour management team,� saidAPHISadministratorW.RonDeHaven. �Hisknowledgeandexperiencewillservetheagency well as it addresses the manyissuesrelated tosafeguardingAmerica�sanimalhealth.�SinceApril 2002,Clifford servedas

VS� associate deputy administrator fornational animal health and policyprograms. In this position, he ledAPHIS� efforts to protect, sustain andimprove theproductivity,marketabilityandhealthofthenation�sanimals,animalproducts and biologics, in addition toprotecting the nation from theintroduction of dangerous and costlypests and diseases. Before becomingassociatedeputyadministratorCliffordserved as VS� assistant deputyadministrator.Since joiningAPHISin1985,hehas

servedas theareaveterinarian incharge

ofOhio,WestVirginia,Michigan andIndiana; as the national animal healthmonitoring systemcoordinator forVSin Ohio; and as the brucellosisepidemiologist andveterinarymedicalofficer inKentucky.He is amember ofthe American Veterinary MedicalAssociation and the United StatesAnimalHealthAssociation.Before he began his work with

APHIS, Clifford was a privateveterinarian.He receivedhisDVMandBSdegrees inAnimalScience fromtheUniversity of Missouri. A native ofKentucky, he currently resides inVirginiawithhiswifeSarah.

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Welcome new State VeterinariansDr. Thomas J. Holt � FloridaDr. DonaldHansen �OregonDr.KathleenM.Connell �Washington

Retired or Resigned StateVeterinariansDr. JoanM.Arnoldi �MichiganDr. JimLogan�WyomingDr.CliffordMcGinnis �NewHampshire

Awards:Dr.ThomasConner,Ashville,OhioVeterinarianof theYear. Dr. Conner served as director of the CattleDivisionof the IndianaBoardofAnimalHealth andworked in largeanimalmedicineandco-chaired theIVMAProgramCommittee formore than15years.

Names in the NewsWe say goodbye to old friends whohave passed awayDr. Ahmed H. Dardiri � Frankenmuth, Michigan �October 4, 2003, USAHALifeMember and servedas laboratorychiefofDiagnosticResearchandServiceat thePlumIsland,NewYork,AnimalDiseaseCenteruntil hisdeath.

Dr.RobertW.Mead�Olympia,Washington�November15, 2003, retiredWashington state veterinarian.

Dr.BenjaminS.Pomeroy�St.Paul,Minnesota�January16, 2004,USAHALifeMember, professor emeritusat theUniversity ofMinnesotaCollege ofVeterinaryMedicine since 1981. Hewas know for his expertisein aviandiseases andpublishednumerous articles.

Dr.MarionT.Szatalowicz�Stanley,Wisconsin�January19, 2004, was a retired food animal practitioner andAVMA�s liason toUSAHA.

ReleaseNo.0140.04

Veneman Names Nation�s Top Vet asAPHIS Administrator

News Release

Washington, April 9, 2004 �AgricultureSecretaryAnnM.VenemantodayannouncedtheappointmentofDr.RonDeHaven as administrator of theAnimal and Plant Health InspectionService.�Iamverypleased thatDr.DeHaven

has accepted this appointment,�Veneman said. �His leadership andmanagement experience are valuableassets aswe continue to strengthenouranimal andplant protection systems.�As administrator, DeHaven will

manageprograms that arecritical to theprotectionofAmerica�s livestock,plantsand food supply. DeHaven replacesBobbyAcord, who retired onApril 3,after almost 38yearsof federal service.Acord served as administrator sinceNovember 2001.Prior tohis appointment, sinceApril

2002, DeHaven served as deputyadministrator ofAPHIS forVeterinary

Services, the nation�s chief veterinaryofficial,where he provided leadershipin safeguarding animal health, mostnotably the management of thedetection and investigation of bovinespongiform encephalopathy (BSE) inacowinWashingtonstate inDecember2003.Heservedas theactingassociateadministrator forAPHISfromOctober2001 throughApril 2002.From1996 to 2001,DeHavenwas

thedeputyadministrator for theAnimalCare (AC) unit of APHIS,administering theAnimalWelfareActand theHorse ProtectionAct. Beforeassuming the deputy administratorposition,DeHavenwasAC�swesternregional director in Sacramento,California, for sevenyears.DeHaven obtained a Doctor of

Veterinary Medicine degree fromPurdue University in 1975 and aMasters in Business Administration

fromMillsapsCollege inMississippi inMay 1989. After graduating fromveterinary school, he spent four yearsin the U.S. Army Veterinary CorpsbeforebeginninghiscareerwithAPHISin 1979.DeHaven lives in Crofton,

Maryland, with his wife Nancy. Theyhave two grown children, a daughterand a son.

CONTACT INFOEditors:J. LeeAlley and Pat Campbell

ProductionStaff:PatCampbell

Articles and feedbackmay besubmittedviaemail to:

linda@usaha.org

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Release No. 0105.04,Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623, JimRogers (202) 690-4755

Veneman Announces Expanded BSE Surveillance Program

News Release

Washington, March 15, 2004 �AgricultureSecretaryAnnM.Venemantoday announced details for anexpandedsurveillanceeffort forBovineSongiformEncephalopathy(BSE)intheUnited States.�Weare committed to ensuring that

a robust U.S. surveillance programcontinues in this country,� saidVeneman. �This one-time extensivesurveillance plan reflects therecommendation of the internationalscientific reviewpanel.�On Dec. 30, Venman announced

that an international scientific reviewpanel would review the U.S.Department of Agriculture�sinvestigation into the BSE find inWashington State and providerecommendations for future actions.Last month, this panel, operating as asubcommittee of the Secretary�sAdvisoryCommitteeonForeignAnimalandPoultryDiseases, recommended aone-year enhanced surveillanceprogram targeting cattle from thepopulations considered at high risk forthe disease, as well as a randomsamplingofanimalsfromtheagedcattlepopulation.ThepanelalsocomplimentedUSDA

on its investigative efforts as well ascommentedthat theremovalofspecifiedriskmaterials fromthe foodsupplywasthesinglemost importantactionUSDAtook to protect public health.USDA�sBSEsurveillanceprogram

historically has been focused on thecattlepopulationswhere it ismost likelytobefound, includingthosecondemnedat slaughter because of signs of centralnervous system disorders, non-ambulatory cattle and those that die onfarms. In FY 2004, USDA sampled20,543animals�asample sizedesignedto detect the disease if it occurred inoneanimalpermillionadult cattlewitha95-percent confidence level,which is

47 times the international standard forlow-risk countries.Veneman said that $70millionwill

be transferred from the USDACommodityCreditCorporation to fundthe enhanced programwith the goal totest as many cattle as possible in thehigh-risk population aswell as to test asampling of the normal, aged cattlepopulation over a 12 to 18month timeframe.The enhanced surveillance plan

incorporatesrecommendationsfromtheinternational scientific reviewpanelandtheHarvardCenter for RiskAnalysis;both have reviewed and support theplan.In addition, USDA is appreciative

of the advice, assistance and analysesprovided by the House and SenateAgriculture Committees, House andSenateAppropriationsCommittee andthe House Government ReformCommittees in developing this robust,aggressivesurveillanceplan.The primary focus of USDA�s

enhancedsurveillanceeffortwillcontinueto be the highest-risk populations forthe disease, but USDA will greatlyincrease the number of target animalssurveyed and will include a randomsampling of apparently normal, agedanimals.USDAwill build onpreviouscooperative effortswith renderers andothers to obtain samples from thetargeted high-risk populations, whicharebannedfromthehumanfoodsupply.Under theenhancedprogram,using

statistically geographic modeling,samplingsome268,000animalswouldallow for the detection ofBSEat a rateof 1 positive in 10million adult cattlewith a 99-percent confidence level. Inother words, the enhanced programcould detect BSE even if there wereonly five positive animals in the entirecountry. Sampling some 201,000animalswould allow for the detection

ofBSEat the same rate at a 95-percentconfidence level.The samplingof apparently normal

animals will come from the 40 U.S.slaughter plants that handle 86 percentof the aged cattle processed for humanconsumption each year in the UnitedStates. The carcasses from theseanimalswill beheld andnot allowed toenter the human food chain until testresults show the samples are negativeforBSE.USDA will begin immediately to

prepare for the increased testing, withtheanticipation that theprogramwillbeready to be fully implemented June 1,2004. In themeantime,BSEtestingwillcontinue at the current rate, which isbased on a plan to test 40,000 animalsin FY2004.Testingwill be conductedthroughUSDA�sNationalVeterinaryServices Laboratories inAmes, Iowa,and a network of laboratories aroundthe country.Detailed information on the

surveillance plan can be found atwww.usda.gov.

Johne�sEducational ToolsSeveral new tools, designed for

use in Johne�s educationalprograms,have recentlybeenmadeavailable by the Committee onJohne�s and the National Johne�sWorking Group. The first is asubscription to the �Johne�s andBeyond� website. Initialsubscriptionswill be good throughSeptember 30, 2005. Thesubscription includes access to thewebsitewww.JD-ROM.complus aCD with 25 �peer reviewed�PowerPoint presentations that havebeendesigned forusewithavariety

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NORTHEAST USAHA MEETS IN BURLINGTON, VERMONTDonald E. Hoenig, VMD, Outgoing Northeast USAHAPresident

Dr. Donald E.Hoenig, MaineState Veterinarian

Regional Meetings

Taylor Woods,president of theNorthCentral USAHA,hosted the group�ssemiannualmeeting atthe Lodge of theOzarks in Branson,Missouri. The eventwas kicked off with afish fry at the TableRock State Park,courtesy ofDr.Woods and his staff.During the business meeting Bill

HartmannwaselectedPresidentandBobEhlenfeldtwaselectedVicePresident forthe next year.ChuckMassengill and Terry Beals

shared a draft strategic plan for the finalphasesoferadicatingbovine tuberculosisfrom the United States, includingrecommended amendments to theUniformMethods andRules (UM&R).

Concerns wereraised withamendments to theUM&R that wouldtie state tuberculosisfree status to certainlevels of lesionsubmission ats l a u g h t e r .Participants wereconcerned that some

states have no control over the ratesof submission in slaughter plantslocated in other states.ValerieRaganprovidedupdateson

brucellosis eradication in the greaterYellowstoneareaand implementationof a national animal identificationprogram. She discussed the $18.8millioninemergencyfundsthatwillbeused to implementanationalpremisesidentificationplan inFY04.

North Central USAHA Semi-Annual Meeting

President Taylor Woods andincoming President Bill Hartmann

USAHA President and VicePresident Don Lein and Rick Willerprovided participantswith updates onUSAHA activities. They shared theExecutive Committee�s efforts toshorten the annual meeting withoutdecreasing its effectiveness. NorthCentral USAHA supports this effortand the new proposed schedule.Dr.Leinreportedonaresolution that

passed theNorthEastUSAHAmeetingearlier in the week. This resolutionaddresses the critical need for acomprehensive analysis of the genericdatabase to evaluate its ability toharmonize with the goals andrequirements of all users with respectto implementationofanationalpremiseand animal identification system. Thisresolutionwaspassedunanimouslyandwill be sent to Secretary Veneman,Undersecretary Hawks andAdministratorDeHaven.

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Under mostlycloudy skies that oc-casionallyresulted infrozen precipitation(it is springNewEn-gland after all!), theNortheast RegionalUSAHA meetingtook place inBurlington,VTfromApril 26-28, 2004.As usual, the programwas packed forthe full three dayswith a variety of topi-cal, relevant andoften controversial pre-sentations.Whilenooneappears tohavekept close track of past attendance,we�re fairly sure an attendance recordwas set for NEUSAHAwith over 150registering. Themeeting beganwith thephenomenally good news thatDr. JohnHuntley has arrived home inNewYorka year after serving in Iraq.While Johnwas unable to be with us, everyone re-

joiced in the news of his safe return.Three meetings were held

concurrentlyonMondaymorning.Were-instituted anAAVLD session bypopular demand with the programplanned and organized by Drs. BobEisner and Mark Walter. Drs. DonLeinandLauraBiglerput together thesession for the rabies group, and theRegionalDairyQualityManagementAlliance (RDQMA) meeting wasplannedby JohnAdams.The focusoftheRDQMAmeetingwas dairy beefand beef quality assurance. OnMonday afternoon, our keynotespeaker for the Johne�s diseasesessionwasDr.MikeCollins fromtheUniversityofWisconsinwhoprovideduswithan interestingandprovocativeupdate on the Johne�s/Crohn�ssituation. Other afternoon speakersincluded Drs. Bob Whitlock, Sue

Stehman,MikeCarter andRickWiller.IDEXXLabs, oneofour sponsors, alsogave a brief update on several of theirnew product initiatives, including therapid BSE test.The evening on Monday was set

aside for social interaction, and thegroupdinedat the lovelyECHOLeahyCenter on beautiful Lake Champlain.Mother Nature cooperated byproviding a stunning sunset over thelake. Our after-dinner speaker,Rosemary Speers from theCenter forNavalAnalysis, gave apresentationontheAmistadFMDexerciserecentlyheldon theTexas/Mexico border. She alsobriefedusonplans forasimilarexercisetobeheld in severalNortheastern statesandCanada in the comingmonths.Steve Kerr, Vermont Secretary of

Agriculture,welcomedus onTuesday

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Southern Animal Health Association 2004 Annual MeetingThe 2004 annual

meeting of theSouthern AnimalHealthAssociation(SAHA) was heldMay 2-5 inChattanooga, TN,with over 100registered guestsparticipating in theeducational forum and various socialactivities thatwere part of themeeting.Theannualmeetingwas supplementedbyanexcellent informational forumco-sponsored by the American HorseCouncil andUSAHA,whichprovidedupdates on regulatory health issuesconfronting thehorse industry. Dr.LeeMyers served as moderator for thesession, which included formalpresentationsbyDr.ErnieZirkle(equineinfectious anemia),Dr. PeterTimoney(equine viral arteritis) and Ms. Amy

Mann (proposed U. S. AnimalIdentificationPlan for horses).Specialguestsattendingthemeetings

includedUSAHAExecutiveCommitteeofficers Dr. Don Lein (President), DrRickWiller (President-Elect),Dr. BretMarsh (First Vice President), Dr. LeeMyers (SecondVice President), Dr. J.Lee Alley (Secretary) and Dr. JonesBryan (Treasurer). Alsowelcomed atthemeetingwerenewlyappointed stateveterinarians Dr. Robert Stout(Kentucky)andDr.TomHolt (Florida).Dr.TonyCaverwasalso recognized forhis service toourcountry thatpreventedhis attending last year�smeeting.On Monday, May 3, the SAHA

meeting beganwith a warmwelcomefrom Tennessee Commissioner ofAgricultureKenGivens. Dr. JereDickprovided aUSDA-APHIS-VS updateonvariousactivitiesandissues, followedby an overview of the current status of

National Animal Identification andSurveillance Programs offered byDr.Valerie Ragan. Dr. Barbara Porter-Spalding moderated a panel ofpresentations reflecting on lessonslearned from the avian influenzaoutbreak inVirginia in2002. Theavianinfluenza reviewprovideda foundationfor Dr. Robert Webster, a world-renowned researcher on influenzaviruses, to present an overview ofinfluenza viruses, focusing on avianinfluenza virus and the risk for animaland human disease. Dr. Webster�spresentationhighlighted the substantialchallengescurrentlyfacingveterinariansinvolved in regulatory medicine andanimal health, and the importantresponsibility veterinarians have insupportinghumanhealth.On Monday afternoon, the group

toured the Tennessee Aquarium

Western States Livestock Health Association MeetingTheWesternStatesLivestockHealth

Assoc ia t ion( W S L H A )annualmeetingwas held at theSparks, NV,GoldenNuggeton March 10-11, 2004. Anexcep t i ona lnumber of animal health officialsattended themeeting, including all thewestern states with the exception ofAlaskawere in attendance alongwithvisitors from nine other states andWashington,DC. Inall therewereoversixty attendees.Presentations anddiscussionswere

centered on current livestock issues,includingBSE,AI,bovine tuberculosis,

brucellosis, USAIP and NAHEMS.President JohnWortmankickedoff themeeting with a warm welcome toWSLHA members and visitors. Dr.Don Lein, USAHAPresident, set thestage for the meeting by addressingUSHA�s position and concerns aboutthe current animal health issues.The group was updated on the

current BSE situation, surveillanceefforts, epidemiology and handling ofthe BSE-positive Canadian Holsteindairy cow case. Dr. Robert Meyerprovided a bovine TB report for theVeterinary ServicesWestern Region.States that are currently involvedwithpositive TB herds discussed theirprogress inhandling thedisease in theirstate. Animal health officials from allstates expressed great concern about

the increasedTBprevalence, especiallyin dairy cattle. The lack of control andtesting of animals from dairy heiferdevelopmentoperations is problematicbecauseof themulti-state sourcingandthe absence of traceability of theseanimals. ManystateshaveinstitutedTBtestingrequirements in the lastyear. Dr.Jim Logan discussed the Wyomingbrucellosis situation and informed thegroup about the transmission of thatdisease fromfree-roamingelk to abeefherd with questionable managementpractices. Each state was asked theirapproach and requirements forWyoming-origin cattle. Texas alsodiscussed its efforts in controllingbrucellosis in that state.Dr. John Weimers, updated the

WSLHA presidentWayne Cunningham

Immediate PastPresidentDr. Ron Wilson

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that:1. A tremendous amount of effort hasbeenmade byUSAHA leadershipsince 1992 tomake theAssociationmore effective in addressing everincreasing and changing challengesto our nation�s animal agriculture.TheComprehensiveReviewdetailsthose efforts.

2. TheConstitutionhasbeeneliminatedandtheBylawscompletely rewrittentopartiallyfulfill theobjectivesof theLRP.

3. The LRP, with its roots in theStrategic Plan of 1992, reaffirmedthe goals of the Association andrecommended three objectives tomeet thosegoals. Acopyof theLRPis attached. The three objectivesaddressed in the LRP are:

a. Make the annual meeting a moreeffective and efficient forum fordiscussion andgrowth;

b. Expand USAHA�s role as aclearinghouse by increasing theimpactof its communicationefforts,for both internal and externalaudiences; and

c. ExpandUSAHAinto amore activeyear-roundorganization.

4. The Association has made greatstrides in completing the objectivesof theLRP:

a. Improvementof theannualmeeting.A number of significantimprovements have been madeincluding:

� Greater coordination with theAmericanAssociationofVeterinaryLaboratory Diagnosticians(AAVLD) on the annual meetingformat;

� Reduction in duplication ofpresentationsduring themeeting;

� Consolidationof somecommittees,including the formation of jointcommitteeswithAAVLD;

� Lengthening of some committeemeetings in order to reduce thenumberof committee sessions;

� Oral committee reports have been

eliminated through a change in theAssociationBylaws;

� Time-specific scientific paperpresentations were implementedallowing theAssociation to focusonemerging disease issues during thegeneral scientific sessions; and

� Beginning in 1998, the annualmeeting has provided for separatescientific andbusiness sessions.All of these changes have resulted

in amore streamlinedmeeting with adecrease inmeeting length by one fullday.b. Communication.� Aweb page has been implementedthat, amongother things, nowpoststhe committee work products(committee report and resolutions)immediately following the annualmeeting;

� The newsletter has been enhancedand frequency increased;

� Anumber ofAssociation positionpapers in the form of specialnewslettereditionsaddressingcriticalsubjects have been produced;

� The proceedings are compiled anddistributedearlier thantheyhaveeverbeen at a reduced cost;

� Anewmemberorientationhasbeenestablishedat the annualmeeting;

� Abrochure has been prepared;� Aproceduremanual for committeechairs has been produced; and

� The Executive Committee meetsregularlyby teleconferencewith theDeputyAdministrator ofVeterinaryServices andhis staff.

c. Year-round presence.� TheExecutiveCommittee,especiallythroughtheactiveengagementof thePresident, the Secretary andCommittee chairs, hasmaintainedyear-round presence for theAssociation;

� In 1998/1999 the ExecutiveCommittee beganmeetingmonthlyby conference calls;

� The Presidents have been moreactively engaged in national issues

and provide a year-round presencefor theAssociationduring their termofoffice;

� Other members of the ExecutiveCommittee, as well as Committeechairs, have been called upon toattend meetings on behalf of theAssociation or to address issuesbetweenannualmeetings; and

� The Government RelationsCommitteemeetings have includedcommittee chairs onoccasion.

5. Financial issueswereidentifiedinthebeginning as a limiting factor to fullimplementation of the LRP. Somefinancial constraints still exist todayin spite of significant adjustments inannual dues and registration fees.However, theAssociation has beenable to meet the objective ofestablishing a one-year reserve offunds. In addition, a new fiscalaccounting system has beenincorporated into theAssociationadministrative office that hasprovided valuable information andguidanceon financialmatters.

6. Enhanced year-round activity wasdesired by theAssociation, partlythrough the hiring of an ExecutiveDirector (ED). This expertise wasintended to be primarilyadministrative innatureasdescribedin the job description for the EDdated September 1998. One of themainresponsibilities for thatpositionwas to find avenues for increasingour membership that would alsoimprove our financial health. Thebudget proposed in 1999 and 2000for theExecutiveDirector includedfour trips toWashington, DC.Thiswasonlyasanestimateofthenumberof meetings requiring USAHAattendance that the President oranother member of the ExecutiveCommittee could not attend. Theintentionwas for thePresident, or inhis absence, anothermember of theExecutive Committee, to be theprimary representative of the

1997 USAHA Long Range Plan Report(Continued from page 3)

(Continued on page 12)

12

priority;4. Re-activate the Annual MeetingReviewWorkingGroup in order todetermine if there are additionalchanges that can be made tostreamline themeeting;

5. Conduct acomprehensive reviewofthe committee structure to identifyareasof further improvement;

6. Evaluate the need for updatedcomputer equipment and software;

7. Continue theclosecoordinationwithAAVLD, including the furtherintegration of the twomeetings insubject areas of common interest;and

8. Maintain the locationof theoffice inRichmondfor theforeseeable future.

LongRangePlanReviewCommittee:Dick McCapes, Chair; RichardWiller; Bret Marsh; ThomasHagerty; Larry Williams; J. LeeAlley.

Association and fulfilling theadministrativegoals in theLRP.We feel that through the collective

efforts of the Executive Committeesince 1997, exceptional progress hasbeenmade and represents a successfulimplementation of the LRP. Theunprecedented attendance at the 2003annualmeetingreflects this.Whilegreatprogress has beenmade, to encouragecontinued growth and success of theAssociation we offer the followingrecommendations:1. The President must continue to beactivelyengaged inall issues thatarecritical to the Association�ifnecessary, financial support shouldbe provided;

2. The Secretary of the Associationmust performadministrative dutiesnecessary to operate theAssociation;

3. Make membership growth a top

Association, not the ExecutiveDirector.TheExecutiveCommitteessince 1997 have demonstrated thata year-round presence could bemaintained through the activeparticipation of the President, theSecretary, other members of theExecutive Committee, andCommittee chairs.

7. The 2002/2003 ExecutiveCommittee determined that thebestway to ensureUSAHAasanactive,year-round organization is throughthe active participation of thePresident, the entire ExecutiveCommittee and,when appropriate,Committee chairs. In addition, theExecutive Committee stronglysupported the need to providefinancial support to thePresident, ifnecessary.Finally, theSecretaryhasbeenchargedwith the responsibilityfor administrative oversight of the

1997 USAHA Long Range Plan Report(Continued from page 11)

followed by a presentation by Dr.ChristianKeller, aquariumveterinarian.The evening culminatedwith a dinnercruisedowntheTennesseeRiveron theSouthern Belle Riverboat. Dr. DarlEnga, a veterinary colleague andaspiring country music entertainer,providedmusical entertainment.

Coordinator forTennessee, detailed theconcept of credentialing beingimplemented in Tennessee with asynopsis of educational initiativesassociatedwith the training program.Mr. Rick Shipkowski, Director ofWeapons of Mass DestructionPreventionandAssistantDirectorof theTennesseeOfficeofHomelandSecurity,offered his insight on the developmentof aWMDworking group, alongwiththebenefitsderivedfromcollaborationsacross a broad range of disciplinesinvolved in preventing terrorism. Atheme of bringing animal health andpublic health together continued asDr.JenniferMcQuiston,veterinarymedicalofficer at the Centers for DiseaseControl, discussed thechallenges facedby agriculture and public health

(Continued from page 10)SAHA Meets

(Continued on page 14)

Tuesday�sagendaofferedoverviewsof several Tennessee programsincluding a credentialing program forvolunteers working in disastermanagement involvinganimalsand thebenefits of a weapons of massdestruction working group. Dr. BobLinnabary, Animal Emergency

13

USAHA and AAVLD alsocomplimented the Department ofAgriculture on its actions in responseto theBSEcase inWashingtonstateandcommendedSecretaryVenemanonherleadershipinensuringthat thisnationhasthe federal laboratory capabilities toprotect animal and human health, andensure the safety of our food supply.USAHA is a 108-year-old science-

basednationalorganizationof state andfederal animal health officials, animalagriculture industries, animal healthresearch scientists, and othergovernment agencies. It addressesissues of animal health and diseasecontrol, foodsafety,homelandsecurity,animal welfare and public health andserves as a clearinghouse for newinformation andmethods thatmay beincorporated into laws, regulations,policy and programs. USAHAacts todevelop solutions based on science,new information andmethods, publicpolicy, risk/benefit analysis and theability to develop consensus forchanging law, regulations, policies andprograms.

discussion topics included the recentdiscovery of a single case of BovineSpongiformEncephalopathy(BSE)andthe current outbreakof lowpathogenicnon-humanavianinfluenzainDelaware.According toUSAHAPresidentDr.

DonLein, theAssociationisparticularlypleased that President Bush�s 2005budget proposal includes $178millionto complete the renovation of theDepartmentofAgriculture�sdiagnostic,biologics and research laboratorieslocated in Ames, IA. �The workconducted in these federal laboratoriesis vital to protect animal and humanhealth, and the safeguarding of thisnation�s food supply.�Lein said.Indiana StateVeterinarianDr. Bret

Marsh,whoparticipated in themeetingwithSecretaryVeneman, stated that, �Ibelieve I speakforall stateveterinarianswhenIsaythat this is themost importantinvestmentwe canmake at the federallevel to support our nation�s animalhealthdefense system.The scientists atthe federal laboratories inAmes play acritical role in animal disease research

anddiagnostics.�These federal laboratories are

recognizednationallyandinternationallyfor their scientific expertise andprofessional ability, and they serve asthenation�s reference laboratory for theNAHLNandother state anduniversityanimal health diagnostic laboratories,�Marsh stated.USAHA and AAVLD also

discussedwithSecretaryVeneman theimportance of the NAHLN, whichbegan in the summer of 2002 to linkstateanimalhealthdiagnostic labs in12states intoanetworkwithfederalanimalhealth labs. They encouraged theexpansion of the network to enhanceanimaldisease surveillance throughoutthenation.USAHA andAAVLD officials in

attendance stated to SecretaryVeneman that they strongly support theimplementation of the U.S. AnimalIdentification Plan (USAIP). Theyencouraged the Secretary to moveforward as rapidly as possible on itsimplementation.

USAHA Meets Secretary(Continued from page 3)

the committee on TransmissibleDiseases of Poultry andOtherAvianSpecies, and his committee fordeveloping a plan for the control ofLowPathAI, andLeeMyers andherworking group for their work on theENDnational surveillanceprogram.Special thanksalso to J.LeeAlley,

RickWiller and Linda Ragland fortheir initiation of theUSAHANewsAlerts. I find themadailymust do tohelpkeepupwithcurrenthappenings.They are also working onenhancementof theUSAHAwebsite.RickWillermust be commended forhis excellent updates on USAHAbusiness to the chairs.USAHAhas responded to several

President�s Corner(Continued from page 4)

rules proposed byUSDA-APHIS-VSand theFoodandDrugAdministration.These comments related to BSEMinimal Risk Regions and theImportation of Commodities, and theFDAruleconcerningtherevokingof theinterstate movement ban for animalsinvolved in themonkeypox outbreak.USAHAalso responded toCaliforniaSenateBill 1425 addressing the testingof all slaughtered cows for BSE inCalifornia as not being scientificallyjustified. Aletterwas sent to SecretaryVenemanand theAPHISAdministratorsupportingtheU.SAnimalIdentificationPlanandRFIDas the technologywhenindividual animal identification isrequired.

On behalf of theUSAHA, Iwantto thankBobbyAcord for his supportof USAHAandAAVLD during histenure asAPHISAdministrator.WewelcomeDr. RonDeHaven into hisnew position as Administrator andlook forward to working with him.Congratulations are also extended toDr. JohnClifford, recently appointedas Deputy Administrator forVeterinaryServices.It is with great joy that USAHA

welcomes John Huntley, NewYorkstate veterinarian, back home fromover a year�s tour ofmilitary duty inIraq. We are glad to have him backsafe and appreciate his service to ourcountry.

14

database. ThemeetingconcludedwithDr.DaveMarshallpresentingafinancialreport and the electionof the followingnewofficers for theupcomingyear:2005 President: Dr.Maxwell Lea,

Louisiana; 2005 Vice-President: Dr.Robert Hillman, Texas; 2005Secretary-Treasurer: Dr. DavidMarshall, North Carolina; IndustryRepresentatives to theUSAHABoardof Directors: Mr. Wayne Godwin,Florida;Dr.GregRosales,Alabama.Dr.Lea invitedeveryone to the2005

annual SAHA meeting to be held inNewOrleans, Louisiana.

are currently part of various USDA-funded animal identification projectsaround the country.Once the system isidentified that showsgreatest potentialfor use on a national level,USDAwillenter into cooperative agreementswithstates, Indian tribes and othergovernment entries to assist them inadapting their existing systems to thenewsystem.

Framework and Funding(Continued from page 3)

UnitedStates canbe identified throughavarietyof systems, averifiable systemof national animal identification willenhance our efforts to respond tointroduced animal disease outbreaksmorequicklyandeffectively,�Venemansaid. �This framework is the result ofconcerted efforts to expedite theimplementation of a system thatmeetsour goals and enables farmers andranchers toadoptexisting identificationprograms and to use all existing formsofeffective technologies.�VenemanannouncedDecember30,

2003, that USDAwould expedite theimplementation of a national animalidentificationsystemforall speciesafterthediscoveryof aBSE-positive cow inWashington State. Today�sannouncement concludes severalmonths of a USDAworking group�sefforts to develop an implementationframework for a U.S. animalidentificationplan.The implementationof aNAISwill

be conducted in three main phases.UnderPhase I, USDAwould evaluatecurrent federally funded animalidentification systems and determinewhich system(s) should be used for aNAIS, further the dialogue withproducers and other stakeholders ontheoperationofaNAIS,identifystaffingneeds, develop any regulatory andlegislative proposals needed forimplementing thesystem.Phase II would involve the

implementation of the selected animalidentification systemat regional levelsfor one or more selected species,continuation effort, addressingregulatory needs and working withCongress on anyneeded legislation.In Phase III, the selected animal

identificationsystem(s)wouldbescaledup to the national level.The first step in the process is to

select an interim data repository tohandle incomingnationalpremisesdata.USDA has commissioned anindependentanalysisof repositories that

associated with the introduction ofmonkeypoxvirus into theUnitedStateslastyear. Dr.MichaelBlackwell, retiredAssistant Surgeon General and nowDean of the University of TennesseeCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine, closedthepublichealth/animalhealth sessionsbychallengingattendeesregarding theirimportant roleofworking togetherwithpublic health in preventing thetransmissionof zoonotic diseases. Thegroupthentraveled to thehillsofmiddleTennesseefora tourof theJackDaniel�sdistillery followed by dinner andentertainment at the distillery pavilionoverlookingdowntownLynchburg.The meeting concluded with

Wednesday�s sessions,which includedan update on USAHA activities byPresident Don Lein and USDAveterinaryservicesupdatesprovidedbyEasternRegionDirectorDr. JereDickandWesternRegionDirectorDr. JoséDiez. Dr. BretMarsh also provided areport on the meetings andaccomplishments of the USAHAGovernmentRelationsCommittee. Dr.RickWillerandDr.BobHillmanoffereda state veterinarian�s perspective oftuberculosis, and the need for renewedfocus on increased surveillance andcontrol of bovine tuberculosis. TheSAHAbusinessmeetingconcluded theagendawith additional discussion andadoptionof a target date for theEquineInterstate Movement Program.Members also took action onresolutions regarding translocation ofwildlifeandimprovementof thegeneric

(Continued from page 12)SAHA Meet

of audiences includingproducers andthose working with producers. TheCD andwebsite also both provide avariety of other resource materials.NewPowerPoint�swillbe includedonthe �Subscriber Only� section of thewebsite as they become available.The second set of information is a

seriesof threehandbooks thatproviderisk assessment tools. All three areincluded inelectronic formon theCDandon thewebsite, but you also havethe option of purchasing them inhardcopy form to use directly withproducers. The first handbookprovides a reviewof �HowtodoRiskAssessment,� while the others aredesigned touse specificallywithdairyor beef producers.Order forms for subscription to

�Johne�s andBeyond� aswell as forthe risk assessment handbooks areincluded in this newsletter. You canalso print order forms from the�Subscription/Order� section of thewebsite�www.JD-ROM.com�and faxor mail them to the USAHA office.Webelieve that youwill find them tobevaluable tools foruse ineducationalprograms.

Johne�s Educational Tools(Continued from page 8)

15

animalidentification.Sunny skies and warmer

temperatures onWednesday providedthe backdrop for the meeting�sconclusion. Dr. Zirkle started off themorning with an update from theUSAHAEIA subcommittee followedbybrief reports fromstateveterinarianswhose states had experienced AIproblemsduring thepreviousyear (Drs.Enck, Cassano, Hannafin and Lis).Unfortunately, Dr.WesTowers couldnot bewith us due to illness, andweallwish him well. We also heard fromsponsors Immucell and the HolsteinAssociation.Atthebusinessmeetingfollowingthe

conclusion of presentations, Dr. DonHoenigwaselectedunanimouslyas thenominee for third vice president ofUSAHA.Dr.NancyHalpernwas alsounanimously elected as the nextNEUSAHA president. Drs. BobEckroade and Vic Lebranch werereelected as USAHA regionaldelegates. The group also honoredDr.CliffMcGinniswhowill be retiring inJune after serving for more than 20years as the New Hampshire StateVeterinarian.We allwishCliff and hiswife good health andmuch happinessin the future.Ahuge thanks goes out toDr.Todd

Johnson for coordinating themeetingfacilities, whichwere superb, and forhelping to plan the program. Thanksalso toDr.KerryRood andhis staff forhosting andproviding clerical support.We�re grateful also to our corporatesponsors for their continued support(Immucell,HolsteinAssociation,EagleTechnologies, Merial, IDEXX, andGlobalVetlink).And finally, thankyouto all the speakers who gave of theirtime and expertise to help make themeeting a great success. We all lookforward to gathering again next yearfrom April 25-27 somewhere inConnecticut!

NORTHEAST USAHA MEETS(Continued from page 9)

morningaswebegananother busydayof presentations. Drs. RickWiller andDonLein brought the group up to dateon current USAHAactivities, andDr.Willer gave an overviewof the currentTB situation in theUnited States. Drs.Beth Lautner and Lynn Creekmorespoke by phone (on the subjects ofPlum Island and CWD, respectively)with their PowerPoint presentationssimultaneously being shown on thescreen.The audiencewas appreciativeof their�remote�participation thatwentoff without a glitch. Other morningspeakers included:Dr. LisaFerguson�overviewofBSEsurveillance;Dr.BruceAkey�NAHEMSandelectronichealth

certification;Drs.ChipRidkyandTomGomez:personalprotectiveequipmentwith emphasis on avian influenza;Dr.Ernie Zirkle: live birdmarket update;and Kevin Maher, Global Vetlink,another of our sponsorswho providedfurther informationonelectronichealthcertification.Tuesday afternoonwas dominated

by discussion of poultry and avianinfluenza issues. Dr. Barbara PorterSpalding and several others gave briefpresentations on several studiesresulting from theVirginiaAIoutbreakin 2002 and Neil Hammerschmidtended the days� sessionswith a talk on

group on the currentUSAIP progress,funding and implementation phasetimelines. Concern was expressedabout theUSDA�s technology-neutraland voluntary program, which was achange frompreviously stated supportforRFID technology and amandatoryprogram. Several states gave reportsrelativetotheirprogressinimplementingstate animal identification databasesystems and variation to theUSAIP.KevinMaher,GlobalVetlinkCEO,

discussedtheelectronichealthcertificatepilot project function and future goals.Dr. KeithRoehr,WSLHA-designatedrepresentative toNAHEMS,presentedthe current efforts and progress of thatcommittee. Dr.DavidKinkerpresentedinformationabout theNAHLNcurrentstatus andNVSLactivities in disease-test development and validation. Dr.Kinker also updated the group aboutthe newAmes, IA,NationalCenter forAnimalHealth laboratorybuildings.The 2005 WSLHA meeting will

again be held at the Golden Nugget.Officers for the 2004-2005 year wereelected. Dr. Wayne Cunningham,Colorado, was elected President andDr. David Thain, Nevada, Secretary-Treasurer. After state reports, themeetingwas adjourned.

WSLHAMeeting(Continued from page 10)

WSLHA Secretary David Thainpresenting plaque to outgoing PresidentJohn Wortman

Dr. Clifford McGinnis receiving hisappreciation plaque from AVICDr. Bill Smith on his retirement asstate veterinarian from New Hampshire

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What�s InsideUSAHAMeetsAgriculture Secretary .............................................................. 3Reviewof 1997USAHALongRangePlan ..................................................... 3VenemanAnnouncement forNAIS .................................................................. 3President�sCorner .......................................................................................... 4President Elect�sCorner ................................................................................. 5On-LineRegistration ....................................................................................... 5Secretary�s Corner ......................................................................................... 6PressReleases:CliffordNamedVeterinaryServicesDeputyAdministrator ........................... 6ExpandedBSESurveillanceProgram .......................................................... 8

Names in theNews ........................................................................................ 7VenemanNamesAPHISAdministrator ........................................................... 7Contact Info ................................................................................................... 7Johne�sEducationalTools ............................................................................... 8RegionalMeetings:Northeast ................................................................................................... 9NorthCentral ............................................................................................. 9Southern ................................................................................................... 10Western .................................................................................................... 10