CONTACT: FOR RELEASE:
Jessica Chittenden Immediately, Wednesday
518-457-3136 May 9, 2001

FOOT-AND-MOUTH: EMERGENCY PLAN DEVELOPED FOR NEW YORK
State Plan and Additional Federal Support Prepare NY for Potential FMD
Emergency

State Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers today announced that New
York State is working cooperatively and diligently with its federal
counterparts to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and
is prepared to combat the disease, if it enters the United States.

"Foot-and-mouth disease has practically devastated the agricultural
community in the United Kingdom and could be just as destructive if it were
to enter the United States," Commissioner Rudgers said. "Because
agriculture touches so many aspects of our daily lives, it is imperative
that we not only work to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the
United States, but be prepared to respond. I can assure every New Yorker
that the State of New York is doing all that it can to keep foot-and-mouth
out of the Empire State."

A task force of state agencies from the Disaster Preparedness Commission
(DPC) has been working to develop an emergency action plan for emerging
diseases in non-human populations, such as FMD. Serving on the task force
are the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the State Emergency
Management Office, the Departments of Environmental Conservation,
Transportation, Health, and Labor; the Divisions of State Police, and
Military and Naval Affairs; the Offices of Mental Health and Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation; and the Thruway Authority.

The state plan will complement USDA's FMD Emergency Guidelines. New York
State's plan will detail risk reduction activities including public
awareness, surveillance and planning, and will outline responsibilities of
state agencies from the moment of notification of the disease from the
agricultural industry to response activities of the various state agencies
both on and off the farm.

In addition to the emergency action plan, the New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets is working to help prevent the spread of this
disease to the United States. The Department has heightened the awareness
of the precautions that need to be taken by farmers and citizens alike, by
arranging for the distribution of information on FMD to farmers at auction
barns and other agri-businesses and also posting information on the
Department's website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us.

"Foot-and-mouth disease has been around as long as cloven-hoofed animals
have been," the Commissioner said. "The current concern stems from the fact
that one of our major trading partners is now infected with this horrific
disease. As we enter the summer months, with county fairs and petting zoos
taking place, I encourage all New Yorkers to look over the safety measures
posted on our website and take the necessary precautions."

"I want to commend Governor Pataki and Commissioner Rudgers for being
proactive and putting together an FMD emergency action plan to ensure that
New York State is prepared if this disease does somehow enter the United
States and New York," State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D.,
M.P.H, Dr.P.H. said. "Although foot and mouth disease is devastating in
animals, fortunately, the human health risk is slight. The infection in
humans is not spread person to person nor through the food chain. Despite
the limited public health impact of the disease, all New Yorkers can be sure
that the State Health Department will continue to work closely with the
Disaster Preparedness Commission task force to minimize the potential for
human illness caused by foot and mouth."

State Disaster > Preparedness Commission Chairman Edward F. Jacoby Jr. said,
"State agencies have once again come together under Governor Pataki's
leadership to formulate a cohesive strategy that increases New York's
preparedness and response capabilities based on the valuable experience we
have gained from past emergencies and disasters."

On the federal level, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman recently
announced additional funding for federal plant pest and animal disease
programs as part of the FY 2002 agriculture budget. An extra $32 million
was authorized to hire approximately 350 additional personnel at critical
ports of entry to protect against animal diseases like foot-and-mouth. The
budget also strengthened the funding for related USDA programs, such as
providing an additional $174 million for the Animal Plant Health and
Inspection Service (APHIS), and an additional $13 million for the
Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Program (AQI).

USDA has also taken other preventative measures to protect American
agriculture from FMD. To date, USDA has temporarily prohibited shipments of
cloven-hoofed animals, certain animal products and used farm equipment from
high-risk countries. It has increased personnel and surveillance at ports of
entry and implemented public education campaigns that include signage, pubic
service announcements, information hotlines and an extensive website. It
has also strengthened federal, state and industry coordination and
dispatched experts to Great Britain to assist in the containment effort.

Animals continue to be destroyed in the United Kingdom in an effort to halt
the spread of FMD. Although not necessarily fatal, FMD is highly
transmissible and debilitates cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, pigs
and sheep, by causing blisters on their mouths, feet and udders. To date,
there have been no confirmed cases of FMD in the United States since the
last outbreak in 1929.

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 1.5 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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