Foot-and-Mouth Disease Facts, April Swine News

Additional Information on Foot and Mouth Disease at:
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF)
Office International des Epizooties (OIE)
ThePigSite.com
Pighealth.com

Click on this map to view a wonderful interactive map that charts how quickly foot and mouth disease spread through the Great Britain and Europe


Extracted from NCDA&CS Press Release, Sat, 17 Mar 2001 20:03:01 -0800

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE PRECAUTIONARY UPDATE

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services animal health officials are continuing to advise livestock producers and citizens to take all precautions necessary as we continue to attempt to prevent the introduction of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) into our country.

As of this date, the outbreak in the United Kingdom has enveloped large portions of England, Wales, and Scotland, and has crossed the English Channel with one confirmed case in France. While endemic in much of the world over recent years, this latest event is particularly troubling because of the large amount of international trade and passenger movement between the U.S. and the affected area. The disease has not been detected in the U.S. since 1929.
 

FMD, while not infectious to humans, is one of the most devastating of livestock diseases because of its extremely contagious nature. Susceptible animals include most cloven (split) hoofed animals, including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and deer. Horses are not affected. The disease causes blisters and sores around the feet, muzzle, mouth, and teats of infected animals. Animals that do not die become severely debilitated and lose production capacity. There is no treatment for FMD, and vaccine is only authorized in the face of an outbreak when other eradication methods have failed. Animals become infected by direct contact with the virus, which can be carried in the air for distances up to 40 miles. The most common means of spread is mechanically through the movement of animals from one premise to another, or on farm equipment, bedding, feed, food items, waste, vehicles, or people's shoes, clothes, or other personal effects.

"Much has been accomplished over the past three weeks in an effort to prevent FMD from entering North Carolina, but we cannot afford to let our guard down," said Dr. David T. Marshall, State Veterinarian. " The financial repercussions could run in the billions of dollars if it were to emerge and gain a foothold in our country." Among the actions taken by the department include:

·        Distribution of a FMD clinical signs manual with color photos to all meat inspection slaughter inspectors.

·        Temporary reorganization of the Veterinary Division administrative structure by detailing Dr. Beth Yongue, Asst. Director of Meat Inspection, to full time FMD activities.

·        Conferring with representatives of the major swine companies at the Pseudorabies Task Force meeting to discuss prevention strategies.

·        Scheduling FMD refresher training for all Field Forces inspectors and veterinarians, to be conducted on March 20 and 22.

·        Rescheduling the quarterly Meat and Poultry Inspection Service supervisors meeting to the week of March 29 to provide personnel with FMD training.

·        Notified all state inspected and Talmadge-Aiken slaughter plants by formal letter of increased FMD surveillance and inspection activities on all animals presented to the plant for processing.

·        NCDA&CS veterinarians visited both Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte International Airports and monitored incoming direct flights from England.  U.S. Customs and USDA, APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) disease prevention inspection protocols were observed for effectiveness.

·        Dr. Marshall and N. David Smith, Deputy Commissioner, met with the USDA, APHIS, PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) state director and
conveyed their concerns and suggestions for improving the surveillance and prevention protocols at airports, seaports, and military bases.

·        Scheduling visits, beginning the week of March 19, to all four N.C. military bases receiving incoming international flights.

·        Distributed FMD fact sheets for posting at all livestock markets, and have instructed NCDA&CS livestock inspectors to increase their presence and educational efforts at these markets.

·        Agreed to suspend routine nonessential NCDA&CS veterinarian and inspector swine farm visits in an effort to tighten biosecurity.

·        Jointly conducting  a FMD Emergency Response Workshop and tabletop
exercise on March 29, in cooperation with NC Emergency Management (NCEM), SART (State Animal Response Team), the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the State Highway Patrol, and the N.C. National Guard.

·        Developed a "FMD Alert" web site section, including links to NCDA&CS press releases, other sites, and an interactive FMD training module for veterinarians and producers. The site is located at http://www.ncagr.com/vet on the division's home page.

"North Carolinians are again reminded to be extremely diligent in their efforts to prevent introduction of this disease," said Commissioner of Agriculture Meg Scott Phipps. "While we cannot guarantee prevention, we all can work together to minimize the risk as much as humanly possible."  Efforts to accomplish this goal include:

·        Producers and veterinarians should become as familiar as possible with the disease by utilizing the previously mentioned training module on the department web site.

·        Producers should observe their stock closely for symptoms and immediately contact their veterinarian if clinical signs are seen.

·        New herd additions should be minimized or suspended. If new animals must be added, they should be limited to those of known background and isolated and observed for illness for 2 weeks prior to introduction.

·        Refrain from feeding farm animals any garbage or waste food products of any type.

·        Restrict the purchase of feed, forage, hay, or bedding materials to those of known domestic or local origin. If used equipment must be purchased, limit it to that of known local origin and thoroughly sanitize it prior to bringing on to the farm.

·        Restrict the entry of any non- farm employee. Clean and disinfect shoes and clothing prior allowing entry of personnel to the animal holding areas of the premise.

·        Thoroughly investigate the international travel status of farm employees. Prohibit them from accessing the premise for at least 7 days after returning from abroad. All clothing and personal items should be washed and disinfected upon reentry.

·        Prohibit employees from receiving any gifts or food products from relatives residing overseas.

·        Discontinue the practice of allowing free ranging dogs or pets on the farm premise. Limit wildlife entry to the farm as much as possible.

For more information, visit the Veterinary Division's web site at http://www.ncagr.com/vet The division is also interested in learning of concerns or potential threats that require investigation. We can be reached at (919) 733-7601 or by e-mail at david.marshall@ncmail.net

Extracted from NCDA&CS Press Release, Tue, 06 Mar 2001 08:54:32


LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ADVISED TO

BE WARY OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Dr. David Marshall, North Carolina's state veterinarian is cautioning livestock industry representatives and other citizens to aid in the effort to prevent the introduction of Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) into the country.


Foot-and-Mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects all cloven hoofed animals, including swine, cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Clinical signs include blisters and sores on the mouth, tongue, lips, teats, and between and around the claws. While not always fatal, animals that survive become debilitated, lose production capacity, and can serve as viral shedders in spreading the disease. Humans are not infected, and there is no treatment or approved vaccine for animal use.


"Foot-and mouth disease is probably considered as the most devastating of all livestock diseases, primarily because of it's highly infectious nature and the ability to infect multiple species," said Marshall. "We are extremely concerned here in North Carolina for a variety of reasons. Our large swine population, as well as the presence of numerous military bases puts us at high risk. In addition, a fair amount of our population travel overseas and we have a widespread international trade presence in meat and meat food items, as well as other agricultural products. The contagious nature of it is evident as we have seen it spread from one source premises in England on February 19th to the entirety of the United Kingdom, Belgium, and suspected cases in France and Denmark in a matter of weeks"

While the USDA has issued a ban on the importation of animals and animal related products from all countries with FMD, there are a variety of ways that it could enter the country. The virus can be mechanically transmitted on people's shoes, clothes, other personal effects, and equipment. It can remain airborne and spread up to a radius of approximately 40 miles. In addition, the feeding of contaminated food items and waste food products is a major source of spread. " I am particularly concerned with the introduction of the virus by animals and products originating in FMD affected countries entering the US secondarily through non infected countries," said Marshall. "It would be prudent to be wary of any imported agricultural or meat food product during this high risk period."
     

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is recommending the following precautions as an aid in preventing introduction:

 

·        Increase farm biosecurity measures by limiting traffic and personal
access of  persons not directly affiliated with  farm operations.

·        Be aware of the international travel status of farm employees and
restrict access if they have traveled overseas within the past 30 days.

·        Limit introductions of  new additions to the herd. If necessary, be
aware of the background and health status of the additions, isolating
and observing them for a period of 10-14 days prior to introduction.

·        Refrain from feeding to animals any garbage or waste food products of
any type.

·        Educate farm employees not to receive any gifts or products,
particularly food or meat items, from relatives that may reside overseas.

·        Restrict the purchase or use of feed, forage, hay, vaccines, and
medications to those produced domestically. Purchase or lease no used
farm equipment unless confident of it's domestic origin.
  

"While a safety net is in place to aid in the prevention of the introduction of this virus, the nature of this disease makes it vitally important that all North Carolinians, particularly those who travel internationally and are involved in the agricultural industry, become educated and aid in the effort on the local level," said Marshall. "This is a situation to be overly cautious and not take anything for granted."

Livestock owners are asked to be epecially observant of the health status of their animals and investigate any animal showing clinical signs suggestive of of FMD. Signs include blisters or sores on the muzzle, feet, teats, or mouth; lameness associated with foot lesions; or lack of appetite or excessive slobbering associated with mouth lesions. While other diseases can cause similar clinical signs, anything suspicious should be pursued through veterinary examination. Producers and veterinarians are encouraged to report any suspicious case to the NCDA&CS, Veterinary Division at (919) 733-7601.