Representatives from Azteca Milling, the EPA, Food and Drug Administration, Greenpeace, American Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations participated in the StarLink Summit. The conference featured keynote addresses by Dr. Channaptna Prakash of Tuskeegee University and Dennis Avery , director of the Center for Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute, a public policy research organization. The disease has not previously been confirmed in Canada geese. Vacuolar myelinopathy is a nervous system lesion that leaves open spaces in the white matter of the brain. Scientists have determined the spaces are caused by separation of the myelin layers that surround and protect the nerves.
Research indicates that the disease is caused by a manmade or chemical substance.
The USGS issued a Wildlife Health Alert Tuesday to natural resource and conservation agencies. While there is no evidence that AVM can affect humans, the risk to humans is unknown. People should avoid handling wildlife that have died from unknown causes, or do so with caution using waterproof gloves or a plastic bag. Hunters should avoid shooting wildlife exhibiting unusual behavior, use waterproof gloves when dressing out game, and cook meat well before eating. Affected birds may be unable to fly, may crash land or swim tipped to one side with one or both legs or wings extended.