What Would YOU Say, If Asked?

by Ron Hall, Office of Communications

We're all employees of the Department--so, in the eyes of the public, each of us is probably thought of as knowing virtually everything about virtually every aspect of our vast and varied USDA mission.

Well, that's a nice thought, but we employees know it's not realistic. Nonetheless, as a USDA employee, what would YOU say if someone asked "Say, what's this 'FMD scare' I keep reading about, and is there something I'm supposed to be doing about it?!"

First, some background. Foot-and-mouth disease, or 'FMD,' is a viral disease that attacks animals with cloven hooves, such as cattle, sheep, and swine. According to Mark Teachman, a senior staff veterinarian in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, it 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. While many affected animals do recover, the disease results in a weakened state, loss of weight, and reduced production of milk and meat. "The disease is virtually never harmful to humans," he pointed out. "But it is highly contagious among those animals which are vulnerable to this virus."

"So countries always want to stop FMD right in its tracks when detected." In fact, that's why foot-and-mouth disease has been the subject of a worldwide, concentrated focus of late. The most recent FMD outbreaks have been detected in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Holland.

"Veterinarians and animal health technicians from APHIS and the Agricultural Research Service, as well as from state departments of agriculture, traveled on-site to the United Kingdom," advised APHIS senior staff veterinarian Ty Vannieuwenhoven. "For several weeks they've been conducting field investigations there and assisting in the depopulation of infected animals, and then cleaning and disinfecting farms afterwards--all to help contain the FMD outbreaks."

"But at the same time," he pointed out, "we've been initiating measures to keep foot-and-mouth disease from entering our borders." That's significant, because the U.S. has been free of that disease since 1929.

Specifically, here are some actions that USDA employees have initiated to ensure that this country remains free of FMD.

First, APHIS set up a toll-free phone number, 1-800-601-9327. According to Joe Annelli, chief of emergency programs in APHIS's Veterinary Services unit, its purpose is to respond to questions from the public, industry, and news reporters regarding USDA's response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe. The phone line is staffed by APHIS veterinarians and import/export specialists. "They are there to explain the restrictions impacting people and products arriving at U.S. ports of entry from disease-affected countries," he said.

APHIS senior staff veterinarian Frank Kriewaldt noted that most callers he has assisted really don't know how FMD is spread--so they want guidance on such matters as whether they should stay in hotels abroad. "We're logging," added Teachman, "up to 300 calls daily on that phone line."

Second, APHIS established a 'war room' at its headquarters office in Riverdale, Md. According to Teachman, its purpose in this particular situation has been to coordinate public outreach activities and congressional requests, plus monitor the FMD outbreaks around the world--and, in turn, coordinate USDA's assistance on-site, as appropriate.

Third, APHIS provided 'media assistance' to its port directors and others at virtually all international airports in this country. "We provided them this 'media assistance'," explained Larry Hawkins, APHIS regional public affairs specialist in Sacramento, "so they could demonstrate to local news reporters and the local public the process by which international passenger baggage is inspected and international passengers are questioned."

This included an overview on how APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine officers coordinate the entire agricultural clearance process, including ensuring soiled footwear is cleaned and disinfected as necessary, and enforcing the U.S. prohibition against the import of agriculturally prohibited products from FMD-infected countries. Those products would normally be detected in luggage by APHIS "Beagle Brigade" canine teams and APHIS baggage inspection officers, plus APHIS commercial air cargo inspectors.

Fourth, APHIS and the Office of Communications updated a previously existing 30-second television Public Service Announcement (PSA) to more specifically address potential problems that can be caused by foot-and-mouth-disease.

"The PSA is designed to reflect the current urgent message on FMD that we want to convey to the public," affirmed David Black, acting director of OC's Video, Teleconference, and Radio Center. He noted that it includes a toll-free number--1-866-SAFGUARD-- designed to provide information for travelers on how they can help safeguard the U.S. from FMD. OC TV production specialist Susan Gentilo added that OC, APHIS, and the Office of Operations coordinated the delivery of the PSAs to 1,200 TV stations around the country, arriving on March 30.

Fifth, OC senior television producer Pat O'Leary and APHIS staff produced a 60-second public information video to be shown in inspection areas at international airports around the country. "The message," he explained, "advises passengers arriving from abroad to fill out their U.S. Customs forms correctly and to be up-front with USDA officials about where they've traveled--so as to help us ensure that FMD doesn't enter this country."

One final note: Didn't "foot-and-mouth disease" used to be called "hoof-and-mouth disease?"

"It seems both terms have been used across the country in the past, although there doesn't seem to be any sort of regional preference," observed APHIS public affairs specialist Kim Smith. "But I understand that 'foot-and-mouth disease' has always been the official term used here at USDA, dating back to the first use of the phrase in USDA publications in the late 1800s."