FASS Announces Seminar on Avian Influenza - US - The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) will offer a seminar on avian influenza on April 29, 2005 in Atlanta, GA. The seminar, entitled “Avian Influenza: The Emerging Global Impact,” will feature speakers addressing overviews of various issues including Lessons Learned from Exotic Newcastle Disease in California, Federal Policy Overview, Economic Impacts, Euthanasia Issues, Vaccinations, Human Casualties in Asia, Diagnostics, and Bioterrorism.

This second seminar in the FASS Professional Seminar Series will address a hot topic among producers, research scientists, government officials, and consumers alike: Avian Influenza. The locale for the seminar has been strategically selected in one of the Southeastern states, Georgia, which represents the heart of the poultry industry. Speakers at the event will represent state and federal agencies, poultry integrators, international cooperatives, and human health facilities.

The seminar has been organized by one of the standing scientific committees of FASS, the Committee on Food Safety, Animal Health, and Animal Drugs, represented primarily by members of the Poultry Science Association (PSA) and by one joint representative of the American Association of Avian Pathologists and PSA. “Avian Influenza was chosen as the seminar topic because of its emerging impact on the commercial poultry industry, both in the U.S. and abroad, its potential for crossing into other species, including humans, and its potential for being used as a bioterrorism weapon.

The World Health Organization has identified Avian Influenza as a critical issue because of its potential for causing world-wide pandemics in this time of international travel and globalization.” Dr. Robert Norton, FASS Committee on Food Safety, Animal Health, and Animal Drugs The seminar will include brief, formal presentations in rapid-fire succession, ending with a panel discussion. A catered lunch will be served, and refreshments will be available throughout the day’s event. The Atlanta seminar will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2005.

The cost of the one-day event is $125, which includes a catered lunch, refreshments, and a CD product including the presentations of each speaker at the event. Registration can be completed soon via the seminar web site at http://www.fass.org/seminars/avian. Attendees can pre-purchase additional CD-ROM products to be disbursed at the seminar. For more information on this event, as an attendee or potential sponsor, contact Amy Kemp, Publication Projects Coordinator, at the Federation of Animal Science Societies or see the seminar web site at http://www.fass.org/seminars/avian.

Source: The Federation of Animal Science Societies - 22nd November 2004