Foot and Mouth Disease - To Protect U.S. Livestock, USDA Must Remain Vigilant and Resolve Outstanding Issues (Paperback)

Original publisher: Washington, D.C.]: U.S. General Accounting Office, 2002] OCLC Number: (OCoLC)53118573 Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease -- United States -- Prevention. Excerpt: ... Executive Summary If FMD enters the United States despite USDA's preventive measures, the Despite Preparation Efforts, nation's ability to identify, control, contain, and eradicate the disease Serious Challenges to an quickly and effectively becomes paramount. Recognizing the importance Effective U.S. Response Are of an effective response, USDA and many states have developed emergency Yet to Be Resolved response plans that establish a framework for the key elements necessary for a rapid and successful U.S. response and eradication program. These plans have been tested, to some extent, by federal and state agencies to determine their effectiveness. Planning and testing exercises have also identified the following challenges, which could ultimately impede an effective and timely U.S. response if they are not resolved before an FMD outbreak occurs: Ensuring the rapid identification and reporting of an FMD incident. A timely response depends on having livestock producers and private veterinarians quickly identify and report suspicious symptoms to state and federal officials. If they do not, FMD could become out of control before the federal and state governments initiate any action. Several federal and state animal health officials expressed concern about how quickly disease identification and reporting would actually occur in the United States. According to USDA officials, the U.K. outbreak helped raise general awareness among state officials, private veterinarians, and livestock producers about the risks and potential of an FMD outbreak in the United States. Consequently, in 2001, USDA and the states increased their efforts to inform the livestock industry about the risks and symptoms of FMD. The challenge to USDA will be to maintain this heightened awareness about FMD, now tha...