State sees first EEE cases of the year in horses

          Equine owners encouraged to vaccinate animals  

        

RALEIGH - Two horses have been confirmed this week as having died after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis within the past two weeks. EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that is preventable in equine by vaccination.
          The unvaccinated horses - an 18-month-old Paint from Carteret County and a 3-year-old Quarter horse from Bladen County - exhibited signs of generalized weakness, stumbling, depression and inability to stand or eat. The Carteret County horse was euthanized July 21, and the Bladen County horse died Aug. 2.
          They are the first reported cases of EEE in horses in North Carolina this year. Earlier this summer, New Hanover County officials reported that the disease was found in a sentinel chicken flock. The state recorded 15 EEE cases in horses in 2013.
          "If your horses exhibit any symptoms of EEE, contact your veterinarian immediately," said State Veterinarian David Marshall. "Several serious contagious diseases, such as West Nile virus, equine herpes virus and rabies, have similar symptoms and should be ruled out."
          EEE causes inflammation or swelling of the brain and spinal cord and is usually fatal. Symptoms include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for signs of the disease to appear.
          Marshall recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from EEE and another mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus. The vaccinations initially require two shots, 30 days apart, for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history. Marshall recommends a booster shot every six months.
          Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to manufacturers' instructions.
          People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

Bravo! Dog and Cat Food Recall

On May 14, 2014, Bravo! LLC of Manchester, CT announced it is recalling some of its raw dog and cat foods due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Where Was the Product Sold?

The recalled product was distributed nationwide to retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers. The product can be identified by the batch ID code (Best Used By date) printed on the side of the plastic tube or on a label on the box.

What's Being Recalled?

The recalled products include:

1) These products are being recalled because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
  All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
  Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110
  Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier 
• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
  All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
  Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110
  Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier

2) These products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution because while they did not test positive for pathogens, they were manufactured in the same manufacturing facility or on the same day as products that did test positive.

• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
  All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes
  Product Numbers: 42-102, 42-105, 42-110
  Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier 
• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BASIC FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
  2lb. tubes
  Product Number: 42-202
  Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier 
• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF & BEEF HEART FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand)
  5lb. tubes
  Product Number: 53-130
  Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier 
• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! 100% PURE & NATURAL PREMIUM GRASS-FED BUFFALO FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
  NET WT 2LBS (32 OZ) .91KG (Tubes)
  Product Number: 72-222
  Best Used By Date: 1/7/16 
• PRODUCT: BRAVO! TURKEY BALANCE FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
  NET WT 2 LBS (32 OZ) .09KG, Chub (tube)
  Product Number: 31-402
  Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16
  NET WT 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube)
  Product Number: 31-405
  Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16 
• PRODUCT: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT)
  5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube)
  Product Number: 42-105
  Best Used By Date: 2/11/16

Reason for the Recall

The company has received a limited number of reports of dogs experiencing nausea and diarrhea that may be associated with these specific products. The company has received no reports of human illness as a result of these products. Bravo discontinued all manufacturing in New Zealand on October 10, 2013. Bravo will immediately start working with distributors and retailers to properly dispose of any affected product left on freezer shelves. The company will also be announcing the recall to pet owners to ensure they dispose of any affected product that has been purchased.
Bravo is issuing this action out of an abundance of caution and sincerely regrets any inconvenience to pet owners as a result of this announcement.

What to Do?

Advise your clients that the recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners who have the affected product at home should dispose of this product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle). Customers can return to the store where purchased and submit the Product Recall Claim Form available on the Bravo website www.bravopetfoods.com for a full refund or store credit. More information on the Bravo dog food recall can also be found at bravopetfoods.com by calling Bravo toll free at 866-922-9222.

Pro-Pet Dog Food Recall

Pro-Pet LLC of St. Marys, Ohio has announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of dry dog and cat foods for possible Salmonella contamination.

According to the FDA, a single field test indicated products manufactured during a two-day period and on the same line of production may have the potential to contain the bacteria.
There have been no reports of illness related to this product to date.

What’s Being Recalled?

The three affected brands include:

• Hubbard Life
• Joy Combo
• QC Plus

No other products or lot numbers are affected by this recall.

Where Were the Products Distributed?

These products were distributed through select stores, distributors and on-line retailers in:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• North Carolin
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• West Virginia

About Salmonella

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products.
People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.
Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting.
Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

What to Do?

Customers should immediately discontinue use of any recalled product.
For more information, customers can contact the Pro-Pet customer service line at 888-765-4190. Representatives will be available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm CT.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Red Flannel Cat Food Recalled!

Pet food maker PMI Nutrition on Saturday voluntarily recalled selected 20-pound bags of Red Flannel Cat Formula cat food because of possible salmonella contamination.

The  recall involves food manufactured for PMI by another company and  distributed in 23 states. The affected states are Alabama, Georgia,  Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan,  Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New  York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont,  Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The recalled food has a best-buy date and lot number of 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A. The code is printed on the lower back side of the bag in a white box on the right-hand side. The product’s UPC code is 7 42869 00058 5.

No pet illnesses have been linked to the Red Flannel food, which the company reported was recalled "out of an abundance of caution” after routine testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed possible salmonella contamination.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning in pets include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. People who handle contaminated pet products may exhibit similar symptoms.

PMI Nutrition, which is based in Arden Hills, Minn., urged customers to stop using the recalled food and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.
 
The company is answering customers’ questions at 800-332-4738 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.