A study from Nature Communications highlights the white-tailed deer species is a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 that enables continuing mutation, and the virus’s circulation in deer could lead to its spread to other wildlife and livestock. And the evidence is growing that humans can get it from deer, which isn’t radically surprising. It’s probably not a one-way pipeline.” Source: … [Read more...]
Search Results for: covid-19
Texas A&M lab: Pets have been getting Covid-19, too
Research on 600 animals from homes where a person had Covid-19 shows about a quarter of the pets sampled since June 2020 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. One quarter of those infected pets were symptomatic with what is described as a very mild illness that resolved without veterinary interventions. Gaining support from the CDC, the lab’s SARS-CoV-2 surveillance will continue, … [Read more...]
White-tailed deer can get Covid-19
A recent series of studies have showed white-tailed deer can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Other studies show wild white-tailed deer can also become infected. Samantha Wisely, professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida, details how to keep disease transmission from deer to humans low. Source: University of Florida Extension, … [Read more...]
Supply-chain contracts getting revamped after Covid-19 disruptions (includes video)
Buyers beware! It is likely the contract changes represented in this article will hit animal health companies at some point. We’re sharing excerpts from the article. Pandemic-driven strains in supply chains are triggering changes in contract terms between suppliers and their manufacturing and retail customers as companies try to address the risks and added costs brought on … [Read more...]
CNN; Covid-19 pandemic magnifies workforce crisis in veterinary field
Opinion CNN’s Alec Snyder assembled a good situational summary of where the veterinary field is in 2021. Same story, different day? Yes. However, Synder combines different elements and challenges to end with some positivity. Between the lines and quotes are opportunities to embrace change, adapt, empower and leave a history of recalcitrant attitudes behind. Consider and … [Read more...]
Pandemic misery index reveals far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on American lives, especially on Blacks and Latinos
Opinion Social media posts are sharing the excitement of live attendance at the 2021 VMX Convention. There’s a backdrop to these return to normal accounts to keep in mind. While progress is being made, racial and ethnic gaps persist, despite an overall decline in pandemic hardship. According to the U.S. Pandemic Misery Index, 80 percent of U.S. adults experienced at least … [Read more...]
Covid-19 takes heavy toll on farmers mental health
Two in three farmers/farmworkers say the Covid-19 pandemic has affected their mental health and more than half say they are experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a recent American Farm Bureau poll. Animal health pros who call on farmers and ranchers may notice behavior that is out of character. Farm Bureau assembled a list of great … [Read more...]
Mini-podcast series on Covid-19 features Scott Weese, DVM
Scott Weese, DVM, is featured in a series of mini-podcasts on Covid-19 precautions in veterinary clinics produced by companion animal Ontario Animal Health Network. Each mini-podcast features a quick 3- to 5-minute “lighting round” on common questions and topics. Source: Worms and Germs Blog, February 22, 2021. Link. The mini-podcasts provide bite-sized bits for busy … [Read more...]
Covid-19: Here to stay
It is more evident Covid-19 is here to stay. It transmits easily, readily develops new strains and is as tough as flu, HIV and measles. Experts recommend we must realize that our lives will not be the same from now on, even with effective vaccines fully available and distributed worldwide. Quite literally, a new Covid-19 industry is developing to address the goods and services … [Read more...]
Covid-19 vaccine trial participant shares story
Longtime industry pro Janice Keene shares her experience as a participant in the Covid-19 vaccine trials. Familiar with the process of developing livestock vaccines, she confidently joined the 44,000 people worldwide involved in the Pfizer/BioNTech trial. The best way to protect the people you love is to get the vaccination yourself.” – Janice Keene Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, … [Read more...]
Vilsack parallels Covid-19 and animal disease vigilance
USDA Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack said there are three lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic that can help the country better prepare for future human and animal infectious disease outbreaks: the sooner you can detect a problem, the better incredible coordination is required the country must be able to create, distribute and manufacture … [Read more...]
Microbiome could help defeat Covid-19
COMMENTARY Bugs have always intrigued me, but I still struggle with pronunciation and spelling. We share this article because trends show people want to feed their pets like they feed themselves. Articles like this one could be part of the reason. Source: The Conversation, January 25, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
We’re underselling the Covid-19 vaccine
David Leonhardt explains why the vaccine news is better than you may think. He parallels the growing vaccine reluctance with the near mass confusion on mask-wearing. He admonishes the experts who don’t seem to trust the public to hear the full truth. . . . We should be greeting < the vaccines > with the same enthusiasm that greeted the polio vaccine.” - Paul Offit, … [Read more...]
Drs. Weese and Anderson continue review of Covid-19 in animals: Plus, the new variant
In a recent post < link > we shared the first six blog posts in a series from Scott Weese, DVM, and Maureen Anderson, DVM. Since then, their review of Covid-19 in animals by family has continued. They also address the new variant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. Source: WormsandGerms Blog. COVID-19 in Animals Review. Part 7: Cattle, November 10, 2020. Link. SARS-CoV-2 in … [Read more...]
Updated OVMA guidance document: Covid-19 and veterinary clinics
Here is the latest version of the OVMA’s document, “A guide to mitigating the risk of infection in veterinary practices during the COVID-19 pandemic” Source: , January 4, 2021. Link. January 2021 Practice Guide to Mitigating the Risk of Infection During the COVID-19 Pandemic … [Read more...]
Avoiding Covid-19 spread after travel (includes videos)
Thanksgiving holiday travel has already proven to speed Covid-19 spread. Kerry Breen offers guidance for quarantining, testing and incubation periods from several sources. If you traveled or gathered with people outside of your immediate household, it's not too late to prevent spreading the virus now.” Source: Today, November 30, 2020. Link. "The order of the day is for … [Read more...]
Dogs being trained to detect Covid-19
Scientists are training dogs to sniff out Covid-19 at airports and other public places around the world. The dogs are doing a good job, too. Madeleine Brand, host of Press Play, interviews Maria Goodavage, journalist and author of Doctor Dogs: How Our Best Friends Are Becoming Our Best Medicine. Link. Source: KCRW, November 17, 2020. Link. At a few airports in the UAE … [Read more...]
Drs. Weese and Anderson review Covid-19 in animals
In a series of blog posts, Scott Weese, DVM and Maureen Anderson, DVM review Covid-19 in animals by family. Industry pros are thankful for the efforts being made to help keep Covid-19 in perspective. Thank you Drs. Weese and Anderson!” Source: WormsandGerms Blog. Link. Worms & Germs Blog is an educational website coordinated by Drs. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson of the … [Read more...]
Scott Weese, DVM, discusses mutating Covid-19 in mink
Weese and others have been forthcoming since January 2020 about the need to approach emerging diseases proactively by looking for potential problems and taking steps to control them early, rather than waiting for definitive evidence of a problem. Now with as many as five strains of Covid-19 virus identified in mink, the early warnings of viral mutation have become reality. How … [Read more...]
VVCA Mark Five series: VCPR Changes Since COVID-19
Complimentary Content In this second Mark Five video, Mark Cushing, J.D. covers the complex subject of how Covid affected telemedicine VCPR policies. Fortunately, veterinary medicine was declared essential across all of the United States. Three different types of took actions that affected they did something about telemedicine VCPR policy: 17 states suspended their … [Read more...]
Dr. Jen translates Covid-19 and pets!
Complimentary Content Covid-19 is the latest topic on Is this a thing? hosted on YouTube by Jenifer Chatfield, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ACVPM. She works through a review of coronaviruses and discusses SARS-CoV-2. She addresses the common questions from animal owners and reviews recent papers about animal to animal infections. Source: Dr Jen the Vet, YouTube. Link. Chatfield … [Read more...]
CDC updates information on Covid-19 airborne risks (with video)
Well duh! The CDC now says people should also avoid crowded indoor spaces and ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated by bringing in outdoor air. This update is a result of mounting evidence from super-spreader events. The guidance for physical distancing remains in place and needs further emphasis as winter drives more personal interactions indoors. The balance of … [Read more...]
Grief leadership needed during Covid-19
The coronavirus pandemic has put in perspective the need for leaders to prepare for disruption of work routines, anxiety within their communities and organizations, and even deaths of community members, friends and team members. Source: Uniformed Services University, May 2020. Link. During pandemics, leaders must attend to many responsibilities, including effective … [Read more...]
Mayo Clinic leader speaks out on effect of Covid-19
Human medicine and animal medicine approaches have become more amalgamated than ever before. Covid-19 restrictions have similar effects on any business that historically required customers to enter a brick and mortar location to be provided services. Gianrico Farrugia, president and CEO of the Mayo Clinic, discusses how Covid-19 spurred rapid transformation there and issues … [Read more...]
French dogs 95-percent effective at smelling Covid-19 virus
Weeks of trials produced positive results at veterinary school and research centre l'École Nationale Vétérinaire in Maisons-Alfort, where researchers say German Shepherds trained to detect coronavirus showed a 95-percent success rate in sniffing out the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.. . . . the dogs had to identify the presence of the virus by smelling sweat samples taken … [Read more...]
CE Webinar to address 5 challenges to managing vet clinics post Covid-19
Complimentary sponsored content from Virox Animal Health™ To help equip practices with the necessary information to plan and execute returning to regular operations, Virox® Animal Health and Bash Halow, presenter, veterinary business advisor, and a veteran practice manager ,have partnered to produce resources that will help guide veterinary hospitals back to … [Read more...]
Polyclonal antibodies being developed IN cows for Covid-19 virus
SAb Biotherapeutics of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is pursuing an extension of previous research in genetically modifying dairy cows so that certain immune cells carry the DNA that allows people to make Covid-19 antibodies. Cows become giant bioreactor antibody factories. They have more blood engineered to synthesize human versions of the proteins and their blood can also … [Read more...]
TODAY! Free webinar: Covid-19 & Companion Animal Setting
Content provided by Virox Animal Health. Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 2:00 PM EDT Practical measures for protecting your team and your clients when returning to business. This webinar is aimed at veterinarians, animal technicians, office managers, employees and volunteers in clinical or group animal settings. Dr. Jose Ramirez will review the latest … [Read more...]
Renewal and recovery after Covid-19 (podcast)
Industry consultants Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA, and Karen Felstad, DVM, CPA, MS, CVPM, CVA, discuss the tectonic shifts the veterinary profession is going through. They explore what the profession is learning, what habits should remain broken and which replacements should become entrenched in the daily routines of veterinary practices. They cover nine areas : … [Read more...]
Pooled global research confirms distancing and masks reduce Covid-19 risks
There has been plenty of confusion on Covid-19 prevention. Researcher have completed a massive review of 172 studies in 16 countries on coronavirus disease transmission. They concluded that keeping at least one meter apart plus wearing face masks and eye protection are the best ways to cut the risk of COVID-19 infection. They shared frequent handwashing and good hygiene are … [Read more...]