Office of the State Veterinarian
805 Beachway Drive, Suite 50
Phone: 317/227-0300
Fax: 317/227-0330
For Immediate
Release: Tuesday, April 17, 2001
Contact: Denise Derrer, Public Information Officer
Indiana State Board of Animal Health, (317)
227-0308, dderrer@boah.state.in.us
ICARD Members Hear Update on
Indiana’s Animal Health Emergency Preparedness
Public
meeting scheduled for April 26 in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS – Concern is
running high as Indiana livestock producers watch their British counterparts
cope with the current Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) epidemic. Today, Indiana’s
top state and federal veterinarians outlined the actions underway to prevent
the introduction of FMD, as well as all foreign animal diseases, to
Indiana’s agricultural industry.
During
the April meeting of the Indiana Commission for Agriculture and Rural
Development (ICARD), Dr. Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian, presented an
overview of the state’s preparedness plan for response to an animal health
emergency. Joined by Dr. Francisco
Collazo, Area Veterinarian-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal
Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) Veterinary Services, Dr. Marsh
discussed how current prevention efforts focus on industry education, disease
monitoring efforts and exclusionary activities at potential points of entry.
“Although
this disease has not been diagnosed in the United States, we are being
proactive in our approach to the situation,” said Lt. Governor Joe Kernan,
Indiana’s commissioner of Agriculture and ICARD chairman. “Given the ease and speed of international
travel and our global economy, it is wise for us to be prepared.”
“FMD
is a highly contagious virus that has the potential to devastate animal
agriculture in this country,” said Dr. Marsh. “The Board of Animal Health
(BOAH) is working closely with USDA at all levels, as well as with other state
agencies, to prevent the entry of FMD into Indiana. Should a break occur, the
focus will continue with our ongoing collaborative work in preparedness and
response planning.”
“Indiana’s livestock industry was worth $1.6 billion
to producers in 1999,” added Kernan.
“We are not pushing the panic button, but we want to protect our
producers from the devastating economic loss farmers in Great Britain are
experiencing.”
FMD
does not affect humans. People,
however, can spread the virus to animals on clothing and footwear, and even in
their nasal passages. Many infected animals recover from FMD, but the disease
leaves them debilitated, causing a severe loss of meat or milk production.
“Preparedness
and prevention are hallmarks of how agriculture addresses issues,” said George
Corya, a cattle producer and ICARD member. “It is important for my commission
counterparts and me to be informed on how our state and federal partners are
working to address animal health emergencies in Indiana. We appreciate the state’s efforts and
attention to this important issue.”
Dr. Marsh emphasized the following points during his
presentation:
·
America
already prohibits the importation of animals and animal products from
disease-affected countries;
·
BOAH
has five foreign animal disease diagnosticians on staff and another five serve
on the local USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services staff;
·
BOAH
has partnered with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) since 1995 to
address animal issues in disaster situations; and
·
Producers
and citizens can expect a swift federal assistance response in the event of a
foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States.
Dr. Marsh also told ICARD members the BOAH will host
an information session on animal health emergency preparedness next week. The
April 26 meeting will convene at 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The meeting will be held in Edy’s Grand Hall
at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis
(between the Administration Building and the Grandstands).
“In addition to producers, we’re encouraging farm
and commodity group representatives to attend,” Dr. Marsh said, “to learn what
steps can be taken to prevent disease transmission, and the response plans that
would be implemented in the event of an animal health emergency.”
ICARD is a bipartisan citizens group that advises the governor,
lieutenant governor and legislature on issues regarding agricultural policy,
programs, legislation and education.
Commission members represent production agriculture, farm organizations,
agribusiness, banking, or public services to rural areas. The Indiana General
Assembly established the Commission in 1989.
Twelve Hoosiers, representing production agriculture
and agribusiness, serve on ICARD along with Lt. Governor Kernan. They are Dennis Carnahan, Vincennes; George
Corya, Commiskey; Wayne Dillman, Martinsville; Richard Fellows, Nabb; Fred
Mann, Cloverdale; David Ring, Huntingburg; Danita Rodibaugh, Rensselaer; Gene
Schmidt, Hanna; Mark Townsend, Hartford City; and Max Wilson, Kokomo.
Ex-officio members are Victor L. Lechtenberg, Dean of Agriculture, Purdue
University; and Joseph R. Pearson, assistant commissioner of Agriculture.
Additional
Contacts:
·
Dr. Bret Marsh, State Veterinarian, Board of Animal Health, (317) 227-0300.
·
Dr. Francisco Collazo, Area Veterinarian-In-Charge, USDA APHIS Veterinary
Services, (317) 290-3300.
·
Julia A. Wickard, Executive Director, ICARD, (317) 232-8778
·
DeeDee Sigler,
Communications Director, Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture, (317)
233-2207
¾ 30 ¾