animalagriculture.org

Emerging Diseases Committee
April 7, 2004

The Emerging Diseases Committee annual meeting was held in SLC on April 7^th, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.  There were 16 people in attendance, down considerably from the previous year’s attendance.  Two featured speakers each gave 45 minute presentations on two major emerging/reemerging diseases in the U.S.  Dr. David Suarez of the USDA ARS Southeast Poultry Research Lab in Georgia updated the group on Avian Influenza Virus.  He presented not only the North American situation, but also the status of the disease around the world; including zoonotic implications.   Our second speaker was Dr. Don Montgomery who described the Brucellosis situation in Wyoming and issues involving wildlife and domestic animal interaction around National Parks.  Both speakers did an outstanding job and their time was appreciated. 

The Chairman of the Emerging Disease Committee expressed his concern that too many concurrent sessions during the NIAA annual meeting creates problems in audience attendance and participation for an organization our size and suggests that future program committees be aware of this situation. 

The business portion of the committee was held from 4:30 to 5:30.  A total of eight resolutions and one position statement were passed.