INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is living up to its name this year as it works to keep track – and members apprised – of existing and emerging animal diseases, particularly when it comes to livestock.

The board will have its quarterly meeting Oct. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at its office in Discovery Hall, Suite 100, on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Public Information Director Denise Derrer promises "lots of discussion and updates" on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), including a final hearing and vote on making permanent an emergency rule BOAH passed this summer.

In July, the board enacted a measure to make recordkeeping of poultry transactions similar to the requirements for other livestock. Anyone with any flock size who buys, sells, leases, barters or exchanges poultry within Indiana must maintain a record of the transaction for three years – including individual animal ID, the number and breed of poultry and names and addresses of the parties involved.

"This will help us if we need to do a disease trace," Derrer said. "We are also offering them the opportunity to voluntarily register their premise and receive a (premise ID) number. This is required for the major livestock species, but optional for backyard bird owners."

She explained HPAI is occupying much of BOAH’s staff time since fall has the potential to bring the virus back to the area, and "we are in a sprint right now to get our preparedness efforts as thorough as we can."

But HPAI isn’t the only thing on tomorrow’s agenda. Swine health programs director Dr. Craig Bowen will address Seneca Valley Virus (SVV). "That has really become more of an issue recently than PEDv (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus)," Derrer explained.

As Farm World reported last week, six Iowa swine herds were recently diagnosed with SVV. It can result in pig lameness and the symptoms appear similar to foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular stomatitis. Derrer said Bowen will talk about what has been seen in Indiana, as well as what is known about SVV so far.

Other items include consideration of a final rule concerning brucellosis control in cattle and bison, as well as reports from other BOAH specialists and State Veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh. For directions or questions, call 317-544-2400 or visit www.in.gov/boah/2343.htm