CONTACT: FOR RELEASE:
Jessica Chittenden Immediately, Friday
518-457-3136 March 16, 2001

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE: PRECAUTIONS URGED TO BE TAKEN
State Agriculture Department Works Cooperatively With Feds to Help Prevent
FMD

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers today urged
farmers and international travelers to be cautious of possibly spreading
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) into the United States. The State Department
of Agriculture and Markets is currently working hand-in-hand with federal
counterparts to prevent the introduction of FMD into New York State and the
United States.

"Although there is no human health risk involved, everyone should be aware
of the seriousness of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and the negative impact it
would have on our livestock industry if it were detected here," said
Commissioner Rudgers. "The State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in
cooperation with our federal counterparts, is doing everything in our power
to protect our borders and our industry from this devastating disease."

Since the initial outbreak in the United Kingdom on February 20th and a
subsequent outbreak in France, more than 100,000 animals have been destroyed
with the potential slaughtering of hundreds of thousands more in a effort to
halt the spread of FMD. Characterized by fever and blisters followed by
erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the
hooves, FMD is a highly transmissible viral disease of cattle, swine, sheep,
goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed animals. Although not fatal, FMD leaves
animals debilitated and causes severe losses in the production of milk and
meat.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is working
diligently to help prevent the spread of this disease to the United States.
Specifically, the Department has trained two additional veterinarians as
Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians (FADDs), giving New York State eleven
FADDs in the state, five employed by the state and six employed by the
federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also in the
process of training an additional FADD.

The Department is also adding in-service training for state veterinarians to
aid in responding to possible FMD outbreaks in the state. Should FMD be
detected in New York, the Department is prepared to take appropriate actions
to protect the state's livestock industry.

In addition, the Department is distributing a fact sheet for farmers,
detailing measures to protect their animals from FMD. The information is
available by contacting the Department at 1-800-554-4501 or by visiting the
Department's website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us. Following are precautions to
be taken to help prevent the spread of FMD and other diseases onto New York
State farms.

* International travelers should declare to customs if they have been
on a farm, in contact with livestock, and the presence of meat, dairy and
other animals products.
* When a new animal moves onto a farm, be sure that the health status
and the source of the animal is known.
* If possible, new animals or returning animals to a farm should be
separated from the rest of the herd for at least two weeks.
* If possible, exclude foreign visitors from farms for at least five
days after arrival in the United States.
* Ask foreign visitors to provide information about recent farm and
animal contacts.
* Clothing worn on farms in other countries should be washed and
footwear should be disinfected.
* Do not allow animal products, clothes, luggage, cameras and other
items from affected countries onto a farm.
* Discourage walking through feed mangers and physical contact of
animals by foreign visitors.
* Farms should have one common entrance/exit with disposable boots or
a disinfectant footbath provided.
* All footwear should be disinfected before entering and after leaving
an animal housing area.
* Keep vehicles, such as milk, feed and livestock trucks, from driving
through areas where animals are housed or feed is kept.

"I can't emphasize enough the importance of taking these precautions on our
farms and in our travels," said Commissioner Rudgers. "While this disease
continues to move about in the United Kingdom, it is important that we stay
critically aware of the people that visit our farms and the cleanliness of
products and vehicles entering our animal facilities."

New York's livestock industry makes up more than half of the state's
agricultural industry sales, contributing $1.9 billion to the state's
economy last year. New York State is home to more than 2 million cows,
40,000 hogs and 58,000 sheep, all of which are susceptible to FMD if it were
introduced here in the United States.

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