Animal Health

• Sept. 6, 2024: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Identified in a Maine Horse
• Sept. 5, 2024 Health Advisory: Increased Illness and Death in Maine Pigs
• NEW CDC REQUIREMENTS for DOGS Entering or Returning to the US
• HPAI in Dairy Cattle News & Resources
• 6/17/2024 - Five Steps to Help Keep Animals Cool and Safe as Temperatures Rise 
• 4/11/2024 - Webinar: Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle Presentation (PDF)
• 4/2/2024 - APHIS Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock For State Animal Health Officials, Accredited Veterinarians and Producers (PDF)
• 4/1/2024 - DSHS Reports First Human Case of Avian Influenza in Texas
• 3/29/2024 - USDA, FDA and CDC Share Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle
• 3/26/2024 - Cattle Concerns in Texas Panhandle: What You Should Know
• 3/19/2024 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Texas and Kansas Dairy Herds
• 1/12/2024: Maine Officials Respond to Avian Influenza Detected in York County
• 12/21/2023: Clinical Microbiology Notification of Laboratory Move
• 11/29/2023: Public Comment Open: Ch. 213, Rules For the Maine Salmonella enteritidis ("SE") Risk Reduction and Surveillance Program for Commercial Egg-Type Flocks
• 11/20/2023: The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry’s Animal Health program is following updates on cases of unusual respiratory disease in dogs in the U.S. Affected dogs are developing severe pneumonia that is not always responsive to typical antimicrobials. Situations where dogs co-mingle may elevate the risk for disease, including kennels, daycares, and dog parks.
  • Guidance on Preventing Disease in Facilities that House Dogs (PDF)
  If you think your dog is affected, we recommend working closely with your veterinarian to discuss testing and treatment options. We also appreciate veterinarians reporting severe respiratory cases in dogs to us directly at animalhealth.agr@maine.gov so that we can begin to quantify and understand the impact in Maine.
• 10/14/2023: HPAI Risk Assessment for Maine Flocks - The United States is again seeing an uptick in Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases. We have not seen any new cases in Maine since Spring 2023. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry’s Animal Health program and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife are regularly surveilling poultry and wild birds, respectively. We will continue to provide updates on this page as possible. Receive DACF updates and alerts regarding the status of avian influenza in Maine by opting into the Avian Influenza email list.
• 10/24/2023: What is Johne's Disease (PDF) - Learn more about the bacterial infection in sheep and goats.
• 10/17/2023: Maine Issues Warning on Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus Cases
• 9/22/2023: Eastern Equine Encephalitis Confirmed in Non-Commercial Farm Animals in Piscataquis County
• 4/20/2023: Advisory for Live Poultry Events in Maine (PDF)
• 4/13/2023: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry names Bolas as new State Veterinarian
• 10/14/2022: Vigilance is still needed as HPAI continues to be detected in Maine's wildlife
• 4/22/2022: Maine Animal Health Officials Issue Advisory Regarding Poultry Swaps and Exhibitions In Response to Bird Flu Cases
• 3/31/2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Situational Report
• 3/17/2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Situational Report
• 2/23/2022: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Situational Report
• 2/21/2022: Maine Officials Respond to Avian Influenza Detected in Knox County
• 2/14/2022: Surveillance testing in New Hampshire identifies H5 HPAI infected wild birds. Read the public announcement. This virus is very likely circulating in Maine's wild birds too. Prevent this virus from impacting your poultry by keeping them separate from wild birds and their environment. Learn more here: Defend the Flock Resource Center.
• 2/10/2022:  USDA Confirms first case of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in US poultry since 2015. This HPAI virus has also been confirmed in our Atlantic Flyway. Maine poultry producers need to take biosecurity steps now to protect their birds. Please call DACF Animal Health, UMaine Extension or your flock veterinarian if you need guidance.
• 1/27/2022: Avian Influenza detections continue in the Atlantic Flyway. Stay up to date and learn how to protect your birds at the USDA 2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza website.
• 1/14/2022: USDA APHIS announces first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in US since 2016. This case was detected in a wild bird in South Carolina. Maine poultry producers are encouraged to implement wild bird exclusion and farm sanitation practices for their farms. Call DACF Animal Health if you have questions or suspect AI in your flock.
• 1/12/22: Additional avian influenza cases detected in 2022. Read January 2022: Letter to Maine Poultry Producers (PDF).

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