Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Most of the initial response to the diagnosis of a foreign animal disease is at
the state and local level. If an outbreak spreads across state lines or if state and
local efforts are unable to control the outbreak, federal involvement quickly follows.
Numerous simulation exercises have been conducted by federal, state and local
authorities to test the response and coordination efforts of an agroterrorism attack.
Examples of such simulations include the Silent Prairie exercise in Washington on
February 11, 2003), the Silent Farmland exercise in North Carolina (August 5,
2003), and Exercise High Stakes in Kansas (June 18, 2003).
The last line of defense, and the costliest, is the isolation, control, and eradica-
tion of an epidemic. The more geographically widespread a disease outbreak, the
costlier and more drastic the control measures become. Officials gained valuable
experience from recent agricultural disease outbreaks such as avian influenza in the
United States, Canada, and Asia; FMD in the U.K.; and citrus canker in Florida.
Each one of these epidemics has required the depopulation and destruction of live-
stock and crops in quarantine areas, indemnity payments to farmers, and immedi-
ate suspension of trade.
Of all lines of defense, mass eradication is the most politically sensitive and
difficult. Actions taken in each of these outbreaks have met with varying degrees
of resistance from groups opposed to mass slaughter of animals, citizens concerned
about environmental impacts of destroying carcasses, or from farmers who fear the
loss of their livelihood. During the 2001 outbreak of FMD in the United Kingdom,
the public was clearly opposed to the large piles of burning carcasses. The disposal
of millions of chicken carcasses in British Columbia, Canada, during 2004 also
caused a significant public debate. Thus, scientific alternatives are needed for mass
slaughter and carcass disposal. Citrus canker eradication efforts in Florida's resi-
dential neighborhoods illustrate how science-based measures have been challenged
and delayed in the courts, or how farmers may be reluctant to voluntarily test crops
or livestock.
Laboratories and Research
Since September 11, 2001, the United States has expanded its agricultural labo-
ratory and diagnostic infrastructure, and created networks to share information
and process samples. So far, 19 universities and institutions have been tapped for
the USDA-funded National Plant Diagnostic Network and its sister group, the
National Animal Health Laboratory Network. A main goal of each is to improve
the diagnostic and detection system in the event of a deliberate or accidental disease
outbreak.
The effectiveness of these networks will require coordinated outreach, observers
say, and cooperative extension services will take on new prominence in their role
of providing information about diseases such as soybean rust to farmers and others
who have regular contact with farms.
