Foot-and-Mouth Disease Is Topic in U.S.

U.S. livestock owners say they are comfortable that long-standing Agriculture Department measures will help prevent foot-and-mouth disease from reaching this country.

“I have a greater risk during my drive to lunch in 15 minutes than I have of foot-and-mouth getting into the United States,” said Scott Keeling of Keeling Cattle Feeders in Hereford, Texas. “There are no absolutes, but I think everything that could possibly be done is being done.”

Illinois hog farmer Jim Niewold said he too isn’t “living in great fear,” but added: “It could happen any time if someone makes a stupid mistake.”

After a case of the incurable disease was reported in Britain last month, the movement of livestock was halted and countryside travel discouraged. Since then, about 80,000 animals either infected or believed to have been exposed have been slaughtered and incinerated in Britain. Thousands more have been destroyed around Europe as a precaution.

“With the worldwide travel that is occurring and the millions of people who are coming from these foreign countries daily and off-loading at airports, how can you adequately safeguard against it?” asked Dr. Sam Holland, South Dakota state veterinarian.

The virus--which strikes cloven-hoofed animals like sheep, pigs and cows, affecting their milk output and body weight--is easily spread by infected animals or carriers including humans, horses, wild animals and farm equipment. It is not harmful to people and has been eradicated from the United States since 1929.

Meat or milk produced by an infected animal is safe for consumption, unlike that of an animal infected with mad cow disease.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has issued an alert to its airport inspectors and banned the import of any British meat products.

Airline passengers must fill out forms asking whether they are carrying agricultural products or have visited a farm. Travelers who have been on a farm in Britain must have their shoes disinfected and their luggage inspected. They are advised to stay away from U.S. livestock for at least five days.

Meanwhile, specialists at Texas A&M; University warned livestock owners to watch who steps on their property, limit vehicle traffic, and boil table scraps fed to swine.

The United States is projected to export $2.5 billion in beef in 2001.

Dr. Donald Montgomery, head of the diagnostic pathology department at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, said an outbreak in the U.S. would have to be contained by vaccinating surrounding herds.

“Since we don’t have the disease in this country, all of our animals are naive and they don’t have the antibodies. That’s why it is so important to stop it, should it ever get here,” Montgomery said.