ATTENTION FARM EDITOR/DIRECTOR

NEWS RELEASE

March 22, 2001

For Further Information Contact: Sara M. Grell

(402) 471-6856

STATE VETERINARIAN URGES PRECAUTIONS FOR OVERSEAS TRAVELERS

Officials Keep Close Eye On Foot-And-Mouth Disease

LINCOLN - In the wake of the European crisis Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Nebraska’s State Veterinarian is urging travelers to foreign countries to take preventative measures upon their return to Nebraska.

Dr. Larry Williams made the request Thursday, following news that Europe’s confirmed cases of the disease have increased to 400.

“We can not demand that people change their travel plans,” Williams said. “But we do ask travelers who might come into contact with the virus to pay close attention to our recommendations so that we may continue to protect our livestock, our economy, and our environment.”

FMD is not considered a human health risk but humans can carry the virus on their clothing, shoes, body and personal items. The disease is extremely contagious and spreads easily among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and deer. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture offers these recommendations:

· Foreign travelers should always declare on their customs form if they have been on a farm or in contact with livestock, and they should always declare the presence of any meat or dairy products.

· Foreign travelers are urged to stay away from animals, farms, and ranches for five days upon returning to Nebraska

· Nebraska livestock owners traveling abroad are cautioned to avoid contact with their animals for five days after returning home

· Carefully wash and disinfect all clothing and shoes upon return to Nebraska

· If possible, foreign visitors should be excluded from visiting livestock facilities for at least five days upon their arrival in Nebraska

· Do not permit clothing, shoes, or other articles from affected countries, such as luggage, cameras, jewelry and watches, to enter livestock facilities

· Keep sterile, disposable coveralls and plastic boots available for visitors to livestock facilities

· Discourage close contact or handling of animals by foreign visitors

· Producers can support NDA efforts against FMD by watching for excessive salivating, lameness, and other signs of the disease in their herd and immediately reporting any unusual or suspicious signs of disease to their veterinarian.

Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Merlyn Carlson said while the disease is primarily a European crisis right now, safeguards are recommended for all travels.

“We have to be cautious on a global level,” Carlson said. “Every precaution is important to ensure that what has happened in Europe won’t happen here.”

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