A functional exercise tests participants abilities' to respond to a simulated event in a controlled environment. The multistate African Swine Fever exercise is rapidly approaching and will take place September 23 - 26, 2019. Participating states (including Minnesota) and industry will work through fictional outbreaks of ASF within the U.S. While the exercise is performed in a controlled environment, it attempts to simulate the real world as much as possible. Because of this attempt at authenticity, participants will always use the phrase, "this is an exercise" when communicating during the event. These four words are very important because one stray phone call or email without them could lead someone to misinterpret the exercise as a real event. Read this example of ASF confusion in Canada earlier this year.

The exercise targets key areas of ASF response and mitigation. Participants will conduct foreign animal disease investigations and practice coordination with testing laboratories and industry. They'll also simulate movement standstills and managed movements with control areas in place around the outbreaks. Lastly, they'll work through the process of continuity of business for non-infected operations.

Look for a brief summary of the exercise in the newsletter next month!

Higher than expected numbers of blastomycosis cases in animals have been reported in 2019, likely due to favorable environmental conditions. Reports are up approximately 35% over this time last year, the second highest year to date. Cases in humans are up 28%. Clusters of blastomycosis are occurring in some areas, particularly Cass County.

Please consider testing for blastomycosis in your patients with compatible clinical signs, such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing and weight loss. Although cases are most common in northeastern counties, dogs have been diagnosed with blastomycosis in almost every county around the state.

If your patients are at risk, so are their owners. A reminder to clients whose dogs have blastomycosis that people can get sick too may help a person get diagnosed more quickly. 

Check the Minnesota Department of Health’s blastomycosis website for maps that compare residence and exposure locations of cases and yearly case counts. You can also find an updated case report form available for download. It’s a fillable PDF so it can be typed and saved to electronic medical records. Watch the mail at your clinic for a more detailed infographic summary of animal blastomycosis data.

Please contact malia.ireland@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5414 if you have questions or want to report a case.