Beginning last year, increased scrutiny has fallen on Seresto flea and tick collars currently manufactured by Elanco Animal Health.  A report by USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting found more than 75,000 reports of incidents involving these collars including the deaths of some pets.

At the time Elanco defended the products as safe given that the volume of collars sold was more than 25 million units and the overall number of incidents was relatively minor compared to that volume.  A 2021 article from the AVMA mostly agreed with Elanco's assessment, finding that most actual issues were minor and anecdotal.

This past week a congressional subcommittee investigating this issue came to a very different conclusion.  A 22-page report released by the committee found that since the product's introduction in 2012, there have been more than 98,000 incidents with 2,500 pet deaths.  The report also cited that Seresto had incidents of death five times greater than the next most popular competing product.

A June 2022 article from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting also showed that the Canadian equivalent of the EPA found hundreds of human incidents and pet deaths linked to the collars and denied the use of Seresto in Canada.  Despite that evidence, the report finds that the EPA ignored the Canadian findings, was possibly negligent in using incident data to properly evaluate the risk of Seresto, and has been slow in re-evaluating its danger.

For its part, Elanco continues to state that they believe Seresto to be safe and it continues to be approved by the EPA and AVMA.

Wisconsin has seen a highly transmissible and dangerous version of the bird flu sweep through much of the state this year.  The result has been the culling of millions of birds across home flocks and larger facilities throughout the state.

This disease is capable of spreading through both wild and domestic bird populations and all animal care facilities should be on the lookout for any bird displaying neurological symptoms.  Animal care facilities should put in place additional screening measures for any birds coming into their facility and take extra care to handle injured or deceased birds.

Anyone who observes sick or dead birds should limit contact.  Try not to touch dead birds or wildlife with your bare hands. If you have to touch a dead bird, wear gloves or use a plastic bag to put it in the garbage. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling and throw away any gloves.

Clinical Signs of Illness

• Decreased food consumption, huddling, depression, closed eyes
• Respiratory signs, such as coughing and sneezing
• Decreased egg production, watery greenis​h diarrhea, excessive thirst
• Swollen wattles and combs​

Additional Information

• DATCP List of Positive Outbreak Areas - https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HPAIWisconsin.aspx
  
• DNR Avian Influenza General Update - https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/55376