Agroterrorism/Bioterrorism: Potential Occurrences and Emergency Management of Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases

Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MSProfessor and Extension Program Leader

for Veterinary MedicineTexas Cooperative ExtensionTexas A&M University System

US Threatened by Potential Occurrences of FEADs Foreign animal diseases

Not currently present in US Accidental and intentional risks for entry

Travelers Meat products Garbage Bioterrorists

Emerging animal diseases A new disease or a new form of an old endemic

disease Natural, accidental and intentional risks of

emergence

Zoonotic diseases Diseases shared by animals and people Various FEADs

Types of Occurrences of FEADs

Natural Accidental Intentional (Bioterrorist Act)

Devastating Impacts of Animal Disease Outbreaks

Economic impacts Sociologic impacts Emotional impacts Political impacts

Foot and Mouth Disease

Not in U.S. A reportable disease

Viral disease Domestic and wild cloven-hoofed livestock Blisters and sores in mouth and on feet

TAHC ban Meat garbage feeding to swine

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Mad Cow Disease

Not in U.S. A reportable disease

Prion disease Cattle People (vCJD) – zoonotic disease

Brain disease in cattle – rabies symptoms

Not contagious

Reduced risks of entry and spread

USDA bans Feed bans Slaughter bans Import bans

Cervid Spongiform EncephalopathyChronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

In U.S. A reportable disease

Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, S. Dakota, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, W. Virginia, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas

Prion disease? Deer and elk

Brain disease – rabies symptoms Chronic emaciation disease

Restricted importation into States

Voluntary CWD Monitoring Program Hunter-Killed Testing Program

Deer with CWD

Elk with CWD

Anthrax

In U.S. A reportable disease

Bacterial disease Domestic and wild livestock People – zoonotic disease

Endemic Southwest Texas IH-10 X IH-35 Triangle

West Nile Encephalitis

In US A reportable disease

Viral bird disease – >100 species Blue jays, crows, hawks Encephalitis death

Transmission Virus in bird blood Mosquito (>75 species) bite bird Mosquito bite mammal – virus not in blood

(dead end) Horse – rabies symptoms People – zoonotic disease

Bovine Tuberculosis

In US A reportable disease

Bacterial disease Cattle

Chronic emaciation, respiratory distress Tumor abscesses of lungs and lymph nodes

Bovine ParatuberculosisJohne’s Disease In US

Not a reportable disease

Bacterial disease Cattle

Chronic emaciation Maldigestive enteritis – diarrhea

Avian InfluenzaAvian Flu Bird Flu Viral disease

Migratory waterfowl Domestic poultry Virus in intestines Virus shed in feces

A reportable disease

Two classifications – disease symptoms Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)

Little risk to poultry industry In US Endemic disease Most common class

High-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Serious damage to poultry industry Not in US Epidemic disease Zoonotic disease (rare)

First Line of Defense in Emergency Management of FEADs

Education of first defenders is key Animal owners County Extension agents Private veterinarians

Emergency Management of FEADs

Biosecurity is key

Early detection is key Unusual signs

Rapid reporting is key Rapid response is key Prompt quarantine is key

Quick diagnosis is key

Disease surveillance is key

Regulatory agencies and animal industries

working together is key

Biosecurity Measures

Wash hands

Wash disinfect boots Wash disinfect trailer Wash disinfect tires Wash disinfect borrowed equipment

Proper garbage disposal

Lock gates Stranger alert International visitor – >48 hours wait

Purchased livestock – >2 weeks isolation, tests

Routine observations

State Emergency Management

Texas State Emergency Management Plan Annex O

Agriculture Production and Companion Animals

Appendix 3 Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases (FEAD) Response Plan

State jurisdiction Texas Animal Health Commission

Five state FEAD committees assess mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery issues Impact assessment committee Security and containment committee Environmental committee Public information committee Community impact committee

Identified incident command system Incident command post(s) Incident commanders – TAHC and DPS

First Assessment and Sampling Team (FAST) Joint Information Center (JIC) Texas Emergency Response Team (TERT)

To support field deployed ICP(s)

Quarantine animals Several mile radius containment zone Months to years Depopulate animals Surveillance of animals Control or eradicate options

Local Emergency Management

Texas Local Emergency Management Plan Annex N

Direction and Control

Appendix 4 Animal Issues Plan

Local jurisdiction County Judge or City Mayor Local Emergency Coordinator (EMC)

Animal disease disasters

TAHC is lead agency (top down authority)

TAHC activates Texas FEAD Response Plan

TAHC activates Local EM Plan

Available Resources

http://extensionvetmed.tamu.edu http://tcebookstore.tamu.org http://fazd.tamu.edu

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/factsheets.html http://www.cdc.gov