NDSU Animal Sciences Animal Agrosecurity Charlie Stoltenow, DVM, DACVPM Associate Professor/Extension Veterinarian ANSC 488, March 25, 2010 Special thanks to the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) and the University of Kentucky Extension Service

NDSU Animal Sciences Dairy Basics Milking Cows –Cows milked 2 – 3 times per day –Cow has to calve in order to produce milk –Many cows may be pregnant while milking Other Dairy Animals –Replacement heifers/Open cows –Calves housed in hutches, hand-fed Logistics –Milk pick-up every other day for processing –Transportation/housing for off-farm events

NDSU Animal Sciences Paul & Joan’s Family Farm Paul – Father Joan – Mother Scott – 16-year-old son Bonnie – 8-year-old daughter Two farm employees

NDSU Animal Sciences Paul & Joan’s Farm Operation Neighboring farms Pastures Corn fields Pond – water for replacement heifers Old well – crop and livestock needs Farmhouse – municipal water supply Goats, dogs, etc.

NDSU Animal Sciences An Unfolding Crisis

NDSU Animal Sciences Setting  Bonnie wins a ribbon at a large multi-species livestock exhibition  Early June during a rainy period  Insect problems abundant

NDSU Animal Sciences After the Exhibition Day 1 –4-H picnic at Paul and Joan’s farm –Children played with the goats, calves, and beagle puppies all the over farm Day 2 –Goats become ill on Paul and Joan’s farm

NDSU Animal Sciences More Problems Day 3 –Heifers sold by Paul to out-of-state producer who came to look at the heifers that day Day 4 –Heifers on Paul’s farm become ill –Called extension agent –Aborted fetus found in the heifers’ pen

NDSU Animal Sciences Where are some areas where Paul’s actions might be found lacking? Assessing Paul’s Response

NDSU Animal Sciences Diagnostics Begin Day 5 –Paul’s cows start to abort –Reduced milk production –Rain resumes –Veterinarian contacted –Necropsy performed/samples taken

NDSU Animal Sciences Regulatory Action Day 6 –All cows abort –State Veterinarian contacted –FADD arrives –Samples taken –USDA lab diagnostics

NDSU Animal Sciences Human illnesses Day 7 –Neighbor’s child sick –Neighbor’s animals off-feed Day 8 –Beagle puppies dead –State lab unable to diagnose –Bonnie becomes ill

NDSU Animal Sciences What are some good biosecurity measures that should have been implemented? What are some other issues that should be addressed? Biosecurity

NDSU Animal Sciences Scope of Incident Expands Day 9 –Regional FADDs investigating –Public Health Department alerted –Link to exhibition suspected –Multiple states involved

NDSU Animal Sciences Diagnosis Day 10 –RVF confirmed –FBI investigates

NDSU Animal Sciences International Consequences Widespread stop movement orders Trade embargoes Joint Operations Center established –Local –State –Federal Joint Information Center established –Media/public information

NDSU Animal Sciences JOC and JIC Federal Bureau of Investigation Public Health United States Department of Agriculture State departments of Agriculture Food and Drug Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency Law enforcement Environmental Protection Agency Department of Transportation Department of Fish and Wildlife

NDSU Animal Sciences Could the US economy be affected by a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak? In a scenario such as the RVF outbreak, how could the US consumer confidence in meat, milk, eggs and other foods be affected after the diagnosis is made? Economics

NDSU Animal Sciences Management What modifications to Paul’s farming operation could reduce the effects of this type of incident? What prevention or mitigation actions may have reduced the exposure of Bonnie’s goats to any disease at the exhibition?

NDSU Animal Sciences Animal Identification How would a database of individual animal identification information and a list of pen locations of exhibited animals assist trace- back and trace-forward identification of cases of RVF?

NDSU Animal Sciences What frameworks exist for local, state, and federal agencies to provide an organized, efficient, and coordinated response? During a RVF outbreak in the United States, what potential response tasks may be required? Coordinated Response

NDSU Animal Sciences Public Information How should Extension agents and veterinarians handle phone calls from the media? What can be done to address rumors that may circulate on the Internet or by , television, and radio during a disease outbreak like RVF?

NDSU Animal Sciences Containment/Eradication People infected with RVF can be a source of the virus for mosquitoes and other insects. Could people be quarantined and confined to hospitals or homes in this situation? How difficult could it be to eliminate an insect-borne foreign animal disease from North America?

NDSU Animal Sciences What differences could geographic location have on the persistence of an insect vector- borne foreign animal disease outbreak over time? Containment/Eradication

NDSU Animal Sciences What psychological, social, and economic issues may arise from a foreign animal disease outbreak? Social Effects

NDSU Animal Sciences Could insurance and indemnity programs play a role in the recovery phase of a foreign animal disease outbreak? Recovery

NDSU Animal Sciences The Need for Functional Exercises

NDSU Animal Sciences Agricultural Significance/Vulnerability Significance –Livestock and poultry - $100 billion/year –17% of American jobs –Exports - $50 billion/year Vulnerability –Spinach – E. coli –Peanut Butter – Salmonella –Great Britain – FMD & BSE

NDSU Animal Sciences Animal Agosecurity Prevention Surveillance –Local veterinarians –Extension personnel –Animal diagnostic laboratories –Producers Biological risk management Owners responsible for animal health –Work with animal health professionals to develop a biosecurity plan

NDSU Animal Sciences Animal Agosecurity Program Should vary by operation Economics Components –Resistance –Isolation –Traffic control –Sanitation and disinfection

NDSU Animal Sciences Resistance and Isolation Resistance –To infection –To illness after infection –As a result of vaccination Isolation –Health monitoring –Containment for 28 days

NDSU Animal Sciences Traffic Control and Sanitation Traffic control –People –Vehicles –Animals Sanitation –Clean, hygienic conditions –Clothing, equipment, people, etc.

NDSU Animal Sciences Coordinated Response Interaction among many agencies –Local –State –Federal Common local emergency responders –Fire –Rescue –Police –EMT

NDSU Animal Sciences Local Veterinarian Trained to recognize disease Trained to take samples Trained to report suspicious diseases to regulatory authorities –State Veterinarian –Federal Veterinarian

NDSU Animal Sciences Office of the State Veterinarian Regulatory authority to enforce regulations and quarantines Should be contacted when suspicion of an FAD or other reportable disease exists

NDSU Animal Sciences Office of the Federal Veterinarian Has access to incredible resources –FADD –Diagnostic Laboratories –Personnel –USDA emergency funds

NDSU Animal Sciences