Agroterrorism/Bioterrorism: Potential Occurrences and Emergency Management of Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases
Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MSProfessor and Extension Program Leader
for Veterinary MedicineTexas Cooperative ExtensionTexas A&M University System
US Threatened by Potential Occurrences of FEADs Foreign animal diseases
Not currently present in US Accidental and intentional risks for entry
Travelers Meat products Garbage Bioterrorists
Emerging animal diseases A new disease or a new form of an old endemic
disease Natural, accidental and intentional risks of
emergence
Zoonotic diseases Diseases shared by animals and people Various FEADs
Types of Occurrences of FEADs
Natural Accidental Intentional (Bioterrorist Act)
Devastating Impacts of Animal Disease Outbreaks
Economic impacts Sociologic impacts Emotional impacts Political impacts
Foot and Mouth Disease
Not in U.S. A reportable disease
Viral disease Domestic and wild cloven-hoofed livestock Blisters and sores in mouth and on feet
TAHC ban Meat garbage feeding to swine
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Mad Cow Disease
Not in U.S. A reportable disease
Prion disease Cattle People (vCJD) – zoonotic disease
Brain disease in cattle – rabies symptoms
Not contagious
Reduced risks of entry and spread
USDA bans Feed bans Slaughter bans Import bans
Cervid Spongiform EncephalopathyChronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
In U.S. A reportable disease
Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, S. Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, W. Virginia, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas
Prion disease? Deer and elk
Brain disease – rabies symptoms Chronic emaciation disease
Restricted importation into States
Voluntary CWD Monitoring Program Hunter-Killed Testing Program
Deer with CWD
Elk with CWD
Anthrax
In U.S. A reportable disease
Bacterial disease Domestic and wild livestock People – zoonotic disease
Endemic Southwest Texas IH-10 X IH-35 Triangle
West Nile Encephalitis
In US A reportable disease
Viral bird disease – >100 species Blue jays, crows, hawks Encephalitis death
Transmission Virus in bird blood Mosquito (>75 species) bite bird Mosquito bite mammal – virus not in blood
(dead end) Horse – rabies symptoms People – zoonotic disease
Bovine Tuberculosis
In US A reportable disease
Bacterial disease Cattle
Chronic emaciation, respiratory distress Tumor abscesses of lungs and lymph nodes
Bovine ParatuberculosisJohne’s Disease In US
Not a reportable disease
Bacterial disease Cattle
Chronic emaciation Maldigestive enteritis – diarrhea
Avian InfluenzaAvian Flu Bird Flu Viral disease
Migratory waterfowl Domestic poultry Virus in intestines Virus shed in feces
A reportable disease
Two classifications – disease symptoms Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)
Little risk to poultry industry In US Endemic disease Most common class
High-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Serious damage to poultry industry Not in US Epidemic disease Zoonotic disease (rare)
First Line of Defense in Emergency Management of FEADs
Education of first defenders is key Animal owners County Extension agents Private veterinarians
Emergency Management of FEADs
Biosecurity is key
Early detection is key Unusual signs
Rapid reporting is key Rapid response is key Prompt quarantine is key
Quick diagnosis is key
Disease surveillance is key
Regulatory agencies and animal industries
working together is key
Biosecurity Measures
Wash hands
Wash disinfect boots Wash disinfect trailer Wash disinfect tires Wash disinfect borrowed equipment
Proper garbage disposal
Lock gates Stranger alert International visitor – >48 hours wait
Purchased livestock – >2 weeks isolation, tests
Routine observations
State Emergency Management
Texas State Emergency Management Plan Annex O
Agriculture Production and Companion Animals
Appendix 3 Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases (FEAD) Response Plan
State jurisdiction Texas Animal Health Commission
Five state FEAD committees assess mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery issues Impact assessment committee Security and containment committee Environmental committee Public information committee Community impact committee
Identified incident command system Incident command post(s) Incident commanders – TAHC and DPS
First Assessment and Sampling Team (FAST) Joint Information Center (JIC) Texas Emergency Response Team (TERT)
To support field deployed ICP(s)
Quarantine animals Several mile radius containment zone Months to years Depopulate animals Surveillance of animals Control or eradicate options
Local Emergency Management
Texas Local Emergency Management Plan Annex N
Direction and Control
Appendix 4 Animal Issues Plan
Local jurisdiction County Judge or City Mayor Local Emergency Coordinator (EMC)
Animal disease disasters
TAHC is lead agency (top down authority)
TAHC activates Texas FEAD Response Plan
TAHC activates Local EM Plan
Available Resources
http://extensionvetmed.tamu.edu http://tcebookstore.tamu.org http://fazd.tamu.edu
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/factsheets.html http://www.cdc.gov
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