Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2001

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752, Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us


AGRICULTURAL FAIRS, AGRITOURISM FARMS TO RECEIVE
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE INFORMATION


The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture has mailed
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) prevention guidelines and posters to
agricultural fairs and agritourism farms across the state - two venues
where people and animals may come in contact.

"Foot-and-mouth disease is not a danger to humans," stresses Jonathan L.
Healy, state Commissioner of Food and Agriculture. "But people could
possibly expose animals to this serious disease. That's why we're asking
folks who have traveled abroad recently to not have contact with
livestock at fairs and farms they visit."

Some 60 fairs and more than 200 farms were sent the materials including
copies of a poster that asks visitors to refrain from entering livestock
areas if they have traveled to an FMD affected country in the past seven
days. Fairs and farms are asked to put the posters in a visible place
near livestock areas.

Other materials in the mailing include a brochure to help livestock
handlers identify FMD should it appear here, and general health
guidelines for operators of petting farms, exhibits and fairs where
people and animals have contact.

Fair operators and farmers who did not receive the mailing, may call
617-626-1742 to request the packet. FMD information for consumers and
travelers is available by calling the US Department of Agriculture
toll-free at 1-866-SAFGUARD. Or visit www.massdfa.org.

FMD is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of
cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other
cloven-hooved ruminants. Many affected animals recover, but the disease
leaves them debilitated. FMD causes severe losses in the production of
meat and milk. It spreads widely and rapidly and has grave economic as
well as physical consequences. The disease does not affect food safety
or humans.


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______________________________________________
Diane Baedeker Petit
Communications Coordinator
Massachusetts Dept. of Food and Agriculture
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1752, fax 617-626-1850
Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us
www.massdfa.org