FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2001

MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Davis, Arizona Dept. of Ag communication manager, (602) 542-0958

(Phoenix) - The Arizona Department of Agriculture will host US and Mexican Agricultural officials in Phoenix April 18, 2001 to discuss a joint effort in preventing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from entering the region.

"Animal and plant diseases don't stop at political borders. We're making a pact to prevent and combat disease threats through a regional, proactive approach," said Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Sheldon R. Jones.

Participants from Arizona, Texas, California, Florida and New Mexico along with Mexican officials from Tamaulipas, Baja California, Sonora, and Coahuila will draft and sign a Regional Declaration of Support. The declaration will state protocols for disease response emergency efforts. "We need to react to threats like true neighbors, it doesn't do us any good to turn our backs on our neighbor. If FMD reaches this continent we all will be impacted," he added.

The United States has not had a case of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. Mexico successfully eradicated the disease in 1953.

In England, the current outbreak began in February and quickly spread. Cases also have been confirmed in the Netherlands, France and Ireland. Recent outbreaks have occurred in Saudi Arabia, Argentina, South Korea and Taiwan.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects pigs, cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, but is not harmful to human health. The disease would have dramatic economic impact on the US and Mexico.

The mission of the Arizona Department of Agriculture is to regulate and support Arizona agriculture in a manner that encourages farming, ranching, and agribusiness while protecting consumers and natural resources.