Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
mrj said:
I'm not sure MRJ in the article I saw it was just horses carrying it from place to place facilitating the spread.
I'm not sure MRJ in the article I saw it was just horses carrying it from place to place facilitating the spread.
Thanks BMR, that is how I took your comment, but wanted it to be very clear in case someone misunderstood.
The story about problems in China could be any living critter, with no real distinction, other than the term "livestock", as I read it.
I well recall how cattle markets plummeted a few years ago over RUMORS of "suspicion" of a bovine critter "frothing at the mouth" in a NE sale barn!
mrj
The story about problems in China could be any living critter, with no real distinction, other than the term "livestock", as I read it.
I well recall how cattle markets plummeted a few years ago over RUMORS of "suspicion" of a bovine critter "frothing at the mouth" in a NE sale barn!
mrj
mrj said:
yep, me too, i remember another ''frothing at the mouth'' highly suspicion ''bovine critter'' in Texas
FDA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2004 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
Statement on Texas Cow With Central Nervous System Symptoms On Friday, April 30th, the Food and Drug Administration learned that a cow with central nervous system symptoms had been killed and shipped to a processor for rendering into animal protein for use in animal feed.
FDA, which is responsible for the safety of animal feed, immediately began an investigation. On Friday and throughout the weekend, FDA investigators inspected the slaughterhouse, the rendering facility, the farm where the animal came from, and the processor that initially received the cow from the slaughterhouse.
FDA's investigation showed that the animal in question had already been rendered into "meat and bone meal" (a type of protein animal feed). Over the weekend FDA was able to track down all the implicated material. That material is being held by the firm, which is cooperating fully with FDA.
Cattle with central nervous system symptoms are of particular interest because cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, also known as "mad cow disease," can exhibit such symptoms. In this case, there is no way now to test for BSE. But even if the cow had BSE, FDA's animal feed rule would prohibit the feeding of its rendered protein to other ruminant animals (e.g., cows, goats, sheep, bison). ...
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2004/ucm108292.htm
or, what about ;
Owner and Corporation Plead Guilty to Defrauding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program
An Arizona meat processing company and its owner pled guilty in February 2007 to charges of theft of Government funds, mail fraud, and wire fraud. The owner and his company defrauded the BSE Surveillance Program when they falsified BSE Surveillance Data Collection Forms and then submitted payment requests to USDA for the services. In addition to the targeted sample population (those cattle that were more than 30 months old or had other risk factors for BSE), the owner submitted to USDA, or caused to be submitted, BSE obex (brain stem) samples from healthy USDA-inspected cattle. As a result, the owner fraudulently received approximately $390,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2007.
snip...
Topics that will be covered in ongoing or planned reviews under Goal 1 include:
soundness of BSE maintenance sampling (APHIS),
implementation of Performance-Based Inspection System enhancements for specified risk material (SRM) violations and improved inspection controls over SRMs (FSIS and APHIS),
snip...
The findings and recommendations from these efforts will be covered in future semiannual reports as the relevant audits and investigations are completed.
4 USDA OIG SEMIANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS FY 2007 1st Half
http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/sarc070619.pdf
snip... please see full text ;
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/06/mad-cows-and-computer-models-us.html
THEY KNEW 2 DECADES AGO the damn BSE mad cow testing were not finding cases ;
BSE-NON-CONFIRMATION OF DISEASE
3. A question posed by Mr Whaley (para 2) is that classical lesions of BSE may not occur in all cases. Supposing we had a strain variant that produced it's lesions in the cerebrum these would not be detected by our current method. I think this would be unlikely but not impossible - another reason why at least a proportion of complete brains (or blocks) should be retained during the epidemic so if the problem Mr Whaley indicates escalates, it can be investigated.
snip...
5. IF you had the information what benefit would there be ? what would you do with it ?
CONCLUSION
I do not recommend any action. The situation should be accepted. I do not think the VIS can do more at present. The situation should be kept under review particularly if there is an escalation in numbers in this category.
R BRADLEY
15 MAY 1990
90/5.15/3.2
http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20090505194948/http://bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/05/15003001.pdf
http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20090505194948/http://bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/05/15003001.pdf
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
SEAC NEW RESULTS ON IDIOPATHIC BRAINSTEM NEURONAL CHROMATOLYSIS (IBNC) FROM THE VETERINARY LABORATORIES AGENCY (VLA) SEAC 103/1
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/11/seac-new-results-on-idiopathic.html
NEW RESULTS ON IDIOPATHIC BRAINSTEM NEURONAL CHROMATOLYSIS "All of the 15 cattle tested showed that the brains had abnormally accumulated PrP" 2009
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-results-on-idiopathic-brainstem.html
AND THE USDA ET AL KNEW IT TOO ;
""These 9,200 cases were different because brain tissue samples were preserved with formalin, which makes them suitable for only one type of test--immunohistochemistry, or IHC."
THIS WAS DONE FOR A REASON!
THE IHC test has been proven to be the LEAST LIKELY to detect BSE/TSE in the bovine, and these were probably from the most high risk cattle pool, the ones the USDA et al, SHOULD have been testing. ...TSS
USDA 2003
We have to be careful that we don't get so set in the way we do things that we forget to look for different emerging variations of disease. We've gotten away from collecting the whole brain in our systems. We're using the brain stem and we're looking in only one area. In Norway, they were doing a project and looking at cases of Scrapie, and they found this where they did not find lesions or PRP in the area of the obex. They found it in the cerebellum and the cerebrum. It's a good lesson for us. Ames had to go back and change the procedure for looking at Scrapie samples. In the USDA, we had routinely looked at all the sections of the brain, and then we got away from it. They've recently gone back. Dr. Keller: Tissues are routinely tested, based on which tissue provides an 'official' test result as recognized by APHIS.
Dr. Detwiler: That's on the slaughter. But on the clinical cases, aren't they still asking for the brain? But even on the slaughter, they're looking only at the brainstem. We may be missing certain things if we confine ourselves to one area.
snip.............
Dr. Detwiler: It seems a good idea, but I'm not aware of it. Another important thing to get across to the public is that the negatives do not guarantee absence of infectivity. The animal could be early in the disease and the incubation period. Even sample collection is so important. If you're not collecting the right area of the brain in sheep, or if collecting lymphoreticular tissue, and you don't get a good biopsy, you could miss the area with the PRP in it and come up with a negative test. There's a new, unusual form of Scrapie that's been detected in Norway. We have to be careful that we don't get so set in the way we do things that we forget to look for different emerging variations of disease. We've gotten away from collecting the whole brain in our systems. We're using the brain stem and we're looking in only one area. In Norway, they were doing a project and looking at cases of Scrapie, and they found this where they did not find lesions or PRP in the area of the obex. They found it in the cerebellum and the cerebrum. It's a good lesson for us. Ames had to go back and change the procedure for looking at Scrapie samples. In the USDA, we had routinely looked at all the sections of the brain, and then we got away from it. They've recently gone back.
Dr. Keller: Tissues are routinely tested, based on which tissue provides an 'official' test result as recognized by APHIS .
Dr. Detwiler: That's on the slaughter. But on the clinical cases, aren't they still asking for the brain? But even on the slaughter, they're looking only at the brainstem. We may be missing certain things if we confine ourselves to one area.
snip...
FULL TEXT;
Completely Edited Version PRION ROUNDTABLE
Accomplished this day, Wednesday, December 11, 2003, Denver, Colorado
END...TSS
To date the OIE/WAHO assumes that the human and animal health standards set out in the BSE chapter for classical BSE (C-Type) applies to all forms of BSE which include the H-type and L-type atypical forms. This assumption is scientifically not completely justified and accumulating evidence suggests that this may in fact not be the case. Molecular characterization and the spatial distribution pattern of histopathologic lesions and immunohistochemistry (IHC) signals are used to identify and characterize atypical BSE. Both the L-type and H-type atypical cases display significant differences in the conformation and spatial accumulation of the disease associated prion protein (PrPSc) in brains of afflicted cattle. Transmission studies in bovine transgenic and wild type mouse models support that the atypical BSE types might be unique strains because they have different incubation times and lesion profiles when compared to C-type BSE. When L-type BSE was inoculated into ovine transgenic mice and Syrian hamster the resulting molecular fingerprint had changed, either in the first or a subsequent passage, from L-type into C-type BSE. In addition, non-human primates are specifically susceptible for atypical BSE as demonstrated by an approximately 50% shortened incubation time for L-type BSE as compared to C-type. Considering the current scientific information available, it cannot be assumed that these different BSE types pose the same human health risks as C-type BSE or that these risks are mitigated by the same protective measures.
http://www.prionetcanada.ca/detail.aspx?menu=5&dt=293380&app=93&cat1=387&tp=20&lk=no&cat2
Line 228: Replace: "All currently recognized forms of BSE (C, H and L-Type) are detectable by these methods." with: "Classical BSE is recognized by all these methods, while a complete evaluation of the approved BSE rapid tests on atypical forms (C, H and L-Type) was never carried out".
http://ec.europa.eu/food/international/organisations/docs/l410677%20EU%20positions%20OIE%2078GS%20Terrestrial%20Manual_annex.pdf
please see full text ;
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Atypical BSE in Cattle
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/03/atypical-bse-in-cattle-position-post.html
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/10/atypical-bse-bse-and-other-human-and.html
> Up until about 6 years ago, the pt worked at Tyson foods where she
> worked on the assembly line, slaughtering cattle and preparing them for
> packaging. She was exposed to brain and spinal cord matter when she
> would euthanize the cattle.
http://www.recordandoalinda.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19:cjd-english-info&catid=9:cjd-ingles&Itemid=8
CJD TEXAS 38 YEAR OLD FEMALE WORKED SLAUGHTERING CATTLE EXPOSED TO BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD MATTER
http://cjdtexas.blogspot.com/2010/03/cjd-texas-38-year-old-female-worked.html
TSS
Kathy
Well-known member
I really like your comment Mogal. I'm not sure I agree with all of it, but, my viewpoint isn't really too different from yours.
What is an immune response? Do you have to produce "antibodies" to say there is an immune response?
Many people will not develop symptoms of an infectious disease, yet they have been exposed and will not shows signs of the disease when later exposed - and yet they don't have to have antibodies to prove "immune".
Genetic constititution is a large concept. Genetics implies (help me if you disagree with my thoughts here).... that DNA is involved.
Can your body fight disease without the help of genetic decoding of the infectious agent? Of course, it can.
I'd love to hear more thoughts from you on the subject. Several recent measles cases were announced present in Alberta. Some of those sick had been vaccinated. It is important to note that just as a "reaction" to the Borax might stimulate all kinds of defensive mechanisms (not including producing antibodies) which can aid in fending off Foot and Mouth (according to the article)... a vaccine does not guarantee your safe either. If your entire body defence mechanisms operate well, infection can be prevented without antibodies.
The inclusion of certain "adjuvants" like aluminum, and squalene in vaccines can act to increase antibody production. There is much going on that we do not understand. Antibodies are not always specific either, to any one disease.
Immunity is a false word in my opinion.
Kathy - the link at the very top was where that came from.... and I perhaps should have put it in quotes.
I believe all illnesses stem from virus, bacteria, fungus, parasites or heavy metals. In order for the body to emit an immune system response you need a proper ph of the gut and oxygen in your cells. 70% of immunity stems from the gut.
Have you noticed that since scientists have cracked the DNA Metabolic code we've been inundated with more severe infectious pathogens? Look at the rise in autoimmune diseases, cancer, etc..... (google "fungus and cancer" and you can spend weeks in reading)
I'm not sure exactly what Borax 30 (sodium borate) is but Muleteam Borax is sodium perborate and its antifungal (its also removes flouride, but that's beside the point) . Are those two the same things, I have not searched it out. FMD is a fungus and that's why Borax works on it because it kills fungus.
You could get the same results with colloidal silver and food grade hydrogen peroxide added together (however it must be in the proper amounts and one would need to research that out, don't take my word for it).
Measles is a respiratory virus..... I would use colloidal silver on that providing they weren't allergic to silver.
The more I look at homeopathic solutions, the more convinced I become that no virus, fungus, or bacteria can live through colloidal silver and hydrogren peroxide. The pharmaceutical companies can't patent it so therefore they don't research it and they hope you won't either.
I believe all illnesses stem from virus, bacteria, fungus, parasites or heavy metals. In order for the body to emit an immune system response you need a proper ph of the gut and oxygen in your cells. 70% of immunity stems from the gut.
Have you noticed that since scientists have cracked the DNA Metabolic code we've been inundated with more severe infectious pathogens? Look at the rise in autoimmune diseases, cancer, etc..... (google "fungus and cancer" and you can spend weeks in reading)
I'm not sure exactly what Borax 30 (sodium borate) is but Muleteam Borax is sodium perborate and its antifungal (its also removes flouride, but that's beside the point) . Are those two the same things, I have not searched it out. FMD is a fungus and that's why Borax works on it because it kills fungus.
You could get the same results with colloidal silver and food grade hydrogen peroxide added together (however it must be in the proper amounts and one would need to research that out, don't take my word for it).
Measles is a respiratory virus..... I would use colloidal silver on that providing they weren't allergic to silver.
The more I look at homeopathic solutions, the more convinced I become that no virus, fungus, or bacteria can live through colloidal silver and hydrogren peroxide. The pharmaceutical companies can't patent it so therefore they don't research it and they hope you won't either.
A
Anonymous
Guest
The question is "How does FMD Spread".. Easy by the USDA.
Your response to the Federal Registy is urgent!
The Federal Registry has a proposal to regionalize Brazil for FMD, etc so we can accept animals and meat from Santa Catarina, Brazil.
As citizens of this country, it is our Right to post our opinion on this forum about proposed rules. If people don't comment, this WILL go through because the National Pork Council posted in favor of it.
Go to: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home
Type in APHIS-2009-0034-0001 above the search box: Hit the search button.
You may read the proposed rule issued by the APHIS. You may submit a comment by clicking on submit comment and it will take a few days before it is posted. You can also read any comment submitted.
I think someone asked if this affects equines and it does as they can carry FMD. Your farm will be under quarantine.
Clovin animals will be depopulated. Submit your comments, this is urgent in keeping all our herds healthy whether you own cattle or not.
Comments are due by 06-15-10 11:59 PM ET
Your response to the Federal Registy is urgent!
The Federal Registry has a proposal to regionalize Brazil for FMD, etc so we can accept animals and meat from Santa Catarina, Brazil.
As citizens of this country, it is our Right to post our opinion on this forum about proposed rules. If people don't comment, this WILL go through because the National Pork Council posted in favor of it.
Go to: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home
Type in APHIS-2009-0034-0001 above the search box: Hit the search button.
You may read the proposed rule issued by the APHIS. You may submit a comment by clicking on submit comment and it will take a few days before it is posted. You can also read any comment submitted.
I think someone asked if this affects equines and it does as they can carry FMD. Your farm will be under quarantine.
Clovin animals will be depopulated. Submit your comments, this is urgent in keeping all our herds healthy whether you own cattle or not.
Comments are due by 06-15-10 11:59 PM ET
Here is an excerpt from Farmer's Union that I thought worth reading and perhaps it will encourage others to submit comments. Comments end July 15th.:
"Lawmakers and regulators must fulfill their primary responsibility to our nation's economic interests, not cater to the economic interests of other countries."
"I can speak firsthand about some of Brazil's sociopolitical issues that would affect this risk assessment, having recently traveled to the country. (.......) Based on their new deforestation policy, the Brazilian government has begun to coordinate local, state and federal efforts to establish a land registry to establish some control over land tenure and ownership. In doing so, the Brazilian government has made it illegal for slaughter houses to purchase animals from anyone who cannot demonstrate via offical government documents that their cattle were produced on "legal" land. As a consequence these cattle will need to go somewhere, raising the distrinct likelihood that a black market for such cattle will arise to accommodate cattle who need to go to market.
The APHIS risk assessment does not address the fact that these black market cattle are completely unregulated even though they eventuall end up in the conventional market, perhaps for export to the U.S. Animals sold in this market could easily come from neighboring states, incluing those bordering countries (such as Argentina) with recent confirmed FMD cases. Until APHIS fully considers the risk associated with these animals that have no oversight from the brazilian government, the agency must not move forward with this change in diseas status." more(......)
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#searchResults?Ne=11+8+8053+8098+8074+8066+8084+1&Ntt=APHIS-2009-0034-0001&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8099
"Lawmakers and regulators must fulfill their primary responsibility to our nation's economic interests, not cater to the economic interests of other countries."
"I can speak firsthand about some of Brazil's sociopolitical issues that would affect this risk assessment, having recently traveled to the country. (.......) Based on their new deforestation policy, the Brazilian government has begun to coordinate local, state and federal efforts to establish a land registry to establish some control over land tenure and ownership. In doing so, the Brazilian government has made it illegal for slaughter houses to purchase animals from anyone who cannot demonstrate via offical government documents that their cattle were produced on "legal" land. As a consequence these cattle will need to go somewhere, raising the distrinct likelihood that a black market for such cattle will arise to accommodate cattle who need to go to market.
The APHIS risk assessment does not address the fact that these black market cattle are completely unregulated even though they eventuall end up in the conventional market, perhaps for export to the U.S. Animals sold in this market could easily come from neighboring states, incluing those bordering countries (such as Argentina) with recent confirmed FMD cases. Until APHIS fully considers the risk associated with these animals that have no oversight from the brazilian government, the agency must not move forward with this change in diseas status." more(......)
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#searchResults?Ne=11+8+8053+8098+8074+8066+8084+1&Ntt=APHIS-2009-0034-0001&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8099
A
Anonymous
Guest
per
Well-known member
CFIA Factsheet on the subject.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep and swine.
FMD also affects goats, deer, bison and other cloven-hoofed domestic and wild ruminants.
Is FMD a risk to human health?
Human cases are extremely rare, generally mild and most often associated with having direct contact with FMD blisters.
FMD is an animal disease and not related to a disease in humans caused by the Coxsackie virus called Hand, Foot and Mouth disease.
What are the clinical signs of FMD?
FMD is characterized by:
•
depression
•
fever
•
blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves
•
foot lesions, accompanied by acute lameness and reluctance to move
•
loss of appetite or milk production
Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.
FMD can be confused with several other animal illnesses, including:
•
vesicular stomatitis
•
swine vesicular disease
•
bovine viral diarrhea (mucosal disease)
•
infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
It can also be mistaken for contact dermatitis due to trauma or chemical contamination (toxic plants).
Where is FMD found?
FMD is currently present in many areas of the world. Canada, the U.S., North and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and several other countries are considered free of FMD.
FMD was last reported in Canada in 1952.
How is FMD transmitted and spread?
FMD is one of the most contagious animal diseases. An outbreak can spread by direct contact, indirect contact, or airborne transmission.
Transmission by direct contact can occur when animals infected with the virus have direct contact with other susceptible animals. Sources of infection include nasal secretions, skin lesions, milk, urine, and faeces.
Indirect transmission occurs when susceptible animals;
•
have contact with people wearing clothes, footwear or equipment contaminated with the virus
•
are held in facilities or are transported in vehicles contaminated with the virus
•
are given feed or water contaminated with FMD virus
•
are exposed to materials such as hay, semen or biological products contaminated with FMD virus
Airborne transmission occurs when infected animals exhale large amounts the virus into the air. The virus can spread by air over long distances. Swine contribute more to airborne transmission because they excrete very large quantities of virus compared to other species.
If an outbreak of FMD occurred, the virus could spread rapidly throughout Canada, due to routine livestock movements. Unless detected early, eradicated immediately and extensive movement restrictions are implemented, the economic losses could be extensive. The potential role that wildlife such as deer, elk and bison, could play as a reservoir for the virus is largely unknown.
How can producers prevent the spread of FMD?
To prevent the spread of FMD and other diseases, biosecurity measures should be implemented on the farm.
All animals, feed, bedding, semen and biological products should be purchased from reputable suppliers. New animals should be held for a period of isolation prior to introducing them to the herd.
All workers and visitors must wear clean clothes and boots dedicated to use in the barns. Any person who has been in a country where FMD has been detected should not be allowed to enter the farm for 14 days after entering Canada. If access is absolutely required, this period may be reduced to a minimum of five days, following extensive personal disinfection.
Vehicles and equipment must undergo proper cleaning and disinfection before entering and exiting the farm.
Producers should regularly monitor the health of their animals, and immediately report any suspicion of illness to a veterinarian.
For more information on animal biosecurity, please visit: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/biosec/biosece.shtml.
How is FMD diagnosed?
The disease diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory testing. In Canada, confirmatory testing for FMD is done at the CFIA's National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg.
How is FMD treated?
There is no treatment for this disease.
What is done to protect Canadian livestock from FMD?
FMD is a "reportable disease" under the Health of Animals Act. This means that all suspected cases must be immediately reported by law to the CFIA for investigation by inspectors.
The CFIA does not permit imports of susceptible animals and animal products from countries that are not recognized by Canada as being
"free of FMD," unless the products have been processed in a manner that destroys the virus.
Travellers entering Canada from any country are required to declare all animals and animal products. They must also report if they have been on a farm or exposed to animals while in another country, or if they will be visiting a farm while in Canada.
How would the CFIA respond to an outbreak of FMD in Canada?
In the event of an FMD outbreak, the CFIA's strategy would be to eradicate the disease and re-establish Canada's disease-free status as quickly as possible.
To eradicate FMD, the CFIA would use a "stamping out" policy, which includes:
•
humane destruction of all infected and exposed animals
•
tracing to identify locations of potentially infected or exposed animals
•
surveillance to detect newly infected animals
•
quarantine and animal movement controls to prevent spread
•
possible use of focussed emergency FMD vaccine, as part of a quarantine and eradication program
•
decontamination of infected premises
•
zoning to define infected and disease-free areas
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep and swine.
FMD also affects goats, deer, bison and other cloven-hoofed domestic and wild ruminants.
Is FMD a risk to human health?
Human cases are extremely rare, generally mild and most often associated with having direct contact with FMD blisters.
FMD is an animal disease and not related to a disease in humans caused by the Coxsackie virus called Hand, Foot and Mouth disease.
What are the clinical signs of FMD?
FMD is characterized by:
•
depression
•
fever
•
blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves
•
foot lesions, accompanied by acute lameness and reluctance to move
•
loss of appetite or milk production
Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.
FMD can be confused with several other animal illnesses, including:
•
vesicular stomatitis
•
swine vesicular disease
•
bovine viral diarrhea (mucosal disease)
•
infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
It can also be mistaken for contact dermatitis due to trauma or chemical contamination (toxic plants).
Where is FMD found?
FMD is currently present in many areas of the world. Canada, the U.S., North and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and several other countries are considered free of FMD.
FMD was last reported in Canada in 1952.
How is FMD transmitted and spread?
FMD is one of the most contagious animal diseases. An outbreak can spread by direct contact, indirect contact, or airborne transmission.
Transmission by direct contact can occur when animals infected with the virus have direct contact with other susceptible animals. Sources of infection include nasal secretions, skin lesions, milk, urine, and faeces.
Indirect transmission occurs when susceptible animals;
•
have contact with people wearing clothes, footwear or equipment contaminated with the virus
•
are held in facilities or are transported in vehicles contaminated with the virus
•
are given feed or water contaminated with FMD virus
•
are exposed to materials such as hay, semen or biological products contaminated with FMD virus
Airborne transmission occurs when infected animals exhale large amounts the virus into the air. The virus can spread by air over long distances. Swine contribute more to airborne transmission because they excrete very large quantities of virus compared to other species.
If an outbreak of FMD occurred, the virus could spread rapidly throughout Canada, due to routine livestock movements. Unless detected early, eradicated immediately and extensive movement restrictions are implemented, the economic losses could be extensive. The potential role that wildlife such as deer, elk and bison, could play as a reservoir for the virus is largely unknown.
How can producers prevent the spread of FMD?
To prevent the spread of FMD and other diseases, biosecurity measures should be implemented on the farm.
All animals, feed, bedding, semen and biological products should be purchased from reputable suppliers. New animals should be held for a period of isolation prior to introducing them to the herd.
All workers and visitors must wear clean clothes and boots dedicated to use in the barns. Any person who has been in a country where FMD has been detected should not be allowed to enter the farm for 14 days after entering Canada. If access is absolutely required, this period may be reduced to a minimum of five days, following extensive personal disinfection.
Vehicles and equipment must undergo proper cleaning and disinfection before entering and exiting the farm.
Producers should regularly monitor the health of their animals, and immediately report any suspicion of illness to a veterinarian.
For more information on animal biosecurity, please visit: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/biosec/biosece.shtml.
How is FMD diagnosed?
The disease diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory testing. In Canada, confirmatory testing for FMD is done at the CFIA's National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg.
How is FMD treated?
There is no treatment for this disease.
What is done to protect Canadian livestock from FMD?
FMD is a "reportable disease" under the Health of Animals Act. This means that all suspected cases must be immediately reported by law to the CFIA for investigation by inspectors.
The CFIA does not permit imports of susceptible animals and animal products from countries that are not recognized by Canada as being
"free of FMD," unless the products have been processed in a manner that destroys the virus.
Travellers entering Canada from any country are required to declare all animals and animal products. They must also report if they have been on a farm or exposed to animals while in another country, or if they will be visiting a farm while in Canada.
How would the CFIA respond to an outbreak of FMD in Canada?
In the event of an FMD outbreak, the CFIA's strategy would be to eradicate the disease and re-establish Canada's disease-free status as quickly as possible.
To eradicate FMD, the CFIA would use a "stamping out" policy, which includes:
•
humane destruction of all infected and exposed animals
•
tracing to identify locations of potentially infected or exposed animals
•
surveillance to detect newly infected animals
•
quarantine and animal movement controls to prevent spread
•
possible use of focussed emergency FMD vaccine, as part of a quarantine and eradication program
•
decontamination of infected premises
•
zoning to define infected and disease-free areas