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Emerging Diseases Committee
April 6, 2005

The Emerging Disease Committee met on Wednesday April 6, 2005 from 1:30 to 5:45 pm, during the NIAA 2005 Annual Meeting in St. Paul Minnesota, with 25 people present.  David Zeman served as the Chair and Vice-Chair Alex Ardans was unable to attend.

The committee session focused on three emerging diseases.  The following speakers presented relevant information pertaining to Hepatitis E virus, Porcine Circovirus, and Texas Fever Ticks.

·        1:30 – 2:15 Hepatitis E Virus: An Emerging Disease Affecting Multiple Species.

          Dr. Pat Halbur – Iowa State University

• 2:15 – 3:00 Update on Porcine Circovirus.

          Dr. Pat Halbur – Iowa State University

• 3:15 – 3:45  Cattle Ticks and Implications for Exotic Disease Introduction

          Dr. Angela Pelzel, Texas Animal Health Commission     

Old Business:  None

New Business:

• The committee reviewed all existing resolutions.  One was deleted because it was redundant, two were new, and eight were reaffirmed or amended.

• The committee discussed the value of the NIAA ED committee discussion list service.  Most felt that the ED committee is too small to sustain discussion activity on its own list. Most felt the list is a good idea but should be a general NIAA discussion list service.  It was mentioned that accurate subject lines would help members delete discussions they are not interested in. 

General discussion:  Appreciation was expressed to Viral Antigens and to Novartis Animal Health for sponsoring this year’s NIAA Emerging Disease Committee meeting.

Committee Session adjourned at 5:45.

Submitted by David Zeman, Chair, NIAA ED Committe