TDA IMPLEMENTS EMERGENCY RULES TO PROTECT AGAINST FOOT-AND- MOUTH DISEASE

NASHVILLE - State Agriculture Commissioner Dan Wheeler today announced the implementation of emergency rules to further safeguard against the threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Tennessee.

"As a precaution to the heightened situation in the United Kingdom and other countries, we've taken steps to strengthen our rules to help keep the disease out," said Wheeler. "While there is no threat to humans from foot-and-mouth disease, the spread of the disease domestically could cost Tennessee farmers millions of dollars in lost income.

"These rules exceed and are meant to complement the current importation requirements by USDA. We feel that the new rules are a prudent, practical measure to protect Tennessee's billion dollar livestock industry."

The new rules provide that cloven-hoofed animals from known FMD countries are banned from entry into Tennessee until six months after USDA has declared a country free of FMD. The new rules also impose quarantines, in addition to USDA importation requirements, on equine, exotics and companion animals coming from known FMD disease countries. The quarantine also applies to any items or materials accompanying the animals.

Although only cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep are at risk, according to State Veterinarian Ron Wilson, the new rules are necessary because other animals and materials can serve as carriers of the FMD virus.

"This disease is highly contagious and easily transported from one source to another. Since the first reported outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in England, we've been working with USDA by stepping up our vigilance to ensure that the disease is not introduced into Tennessee," said Wilson. "We've also been working to provide information to veterinarians, animal health technicians and the livestock industry about symptoms of the disease and encouraging them to report any suspicious signs."

Animals infected with the virus, says Wilson, develop blisters and sores in and around the mouth, feet and udder. Clinically ill animals frequently have a high temperature and a significant appetite loss, exhibit lameness and often drool excessively. Death losses are relatively low but are most evident with younger animals.

Since the beginning of the outbreaks in Europe and under existing authority of the commissioner, the TDA has been and is continuing to restrict the movement of farm equipment that is imported from known FMD countries. The equipment is also required to be disinfected.

The state's action follows a USDA ban in March on the importation of live swine and ruminants, including fresh pork and ruminant meat products, from infected countries. International travelers are also being monitored and informed about the disease. Soiled footwear must be disinfected and if travelers have been around livestock they are being instructed to avoid contact with their animals for five days after returning.

For more information about the new emergency rules, FMD or to report potential symptoms or threats of the disease, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, State Veterinarian office at (615) 837-5120, or USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service office in Nashville at (615) 781-5310. For information about USDA's response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, visit their Web site at www.usda.gov or call toll-free 1-800-601-9327.

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