Terror in the Heartland: New ideas for covering disasters that

affect agriculture and health

PETER HOFHERRPETER HOFHERRDirector Director

Missouri Department of AgricultureMissouri Department of Agriculture

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Why Would a Terrorist Why Would a Terrorist Attack Agriculture?Attack Agriculture?

Ag systems are generally less protected than other targets.

Has the potential to cause grave economic and psychological damage to the system.

Tools are more available and have more acceptability in the world community than biological attacks on humans.

Bioterrorism Directed TowardBioterrorism Directed Toward U. S. Agriculture Industry U. S. Agriculture Industry

FMD is the most probable agentFMD is the most probable agent

Other possible agents – TB, Other possible agents – TB, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Hog Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Hog Cholera, & Exotic New CastleCholera, & Exotic New Castle

Human impact minimal – Human impact minimal – psychological, mistrust of food supplypsychological, mistrust of food supply

Devastating economic implications to Devastating economic implications to livestock industrylivestock industry

The best time to The best time to prepare is when prepare is when

there is no crisis.there is no crisis.

Players and the PlanPlayers and the Plan

MDA has developed an annex to the state emergency plan for use in the event of an outbreak of animal disease.

Multi-Agency PlanMulti-Agency Plan

Governor’s Office, Attorney General

State Agencies: MDA, DNR, MDC, DHSS, MoDOT, DMH, DSS, DED

State Law Enforcement: DPS, National Guard, Highway Patrol, SEMA, Water Patrol

Private sector where appropriate – Doctors, Veterinarians, Counselors, etc.

Players and the PlanPlayers and the Plan

Department of Homeland Security, in cooperation with Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency has coordinated numerous tabletop exercises with agriculture components.

Early this year SEMA and MDA conducted a statewide simulation of an intentional introduction of foot & mouth disease.

Exercising the PlanExercising the Plan

Additional Steps Taken by Additional Steps Taken by MDA to Respond to a MDA to Respond to a Disease OutbreakDisease Outbreak

Provided disease recognition training to Provided disease recognition training to practitioners.practitioners.

Developing annex templates for county Developing annex templates for county emergency plans.emergency plans.

Stage equipment to respond to an Stage equipment to respond to an animal disease emergency.animal disease emergency.

Future PlansFuture Plans Increase Bioterrorism/FAD awareness with Increase Bioterrorism/FAD awareness with

individuals involved in the agriculture sector.individuals involved in the agriculture sector. Increase involvement of field staff with local Increase involvement of field staff with local

emergency responders.emergency responders. Increase the department’s level of response Increase the department’s level of response

to natural disasters.to natural disasters. Encourage private veterinarians to Encourage private veterinarians to

participate as volunteer responders.participate as volunteer responders. If a disease occurs, be able to respond If a disease occurs, be able to respond

quickly to protect the assets of the state.quickly to protect the assets of the state.

““Missouri animal Missouri animal health officials are health officials are

investigating…”investigating…”

Communications FlowCommunications Flow

Accredited Vet in Practice or at Livestock Market

USDA Regional Veterinarian

FADD Evaluation

State Veterinarian

Department Director

Governor’s Office

SEMACommunications

Director

Local Emergency Responders

Animal Health/ Livestock Org.

Commodity Groups

MEDIA

Governor’s Communications

Director

SEMA PIO

Health PIO

Conservation PIO

NASDA / COSDA

Questions? Questions?

Animal Health DivisionAnimal Health Division

573-751-3377573-751-3377

Terror in the Heartland: New ideas for covering disasters that

affect agriculture and health

RAY WADLEYRAY WADLEYAgri-Security OfficerAgri-Security Officer

Missouri Department of AgricultureMissouri Department of Agriculture

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Veterinary Speak 101Veterinary Speak 101

Definitions:Definitions:

AgroterrorismAgroterrorism

The intentional attack on The intentional attack on agriculture infrastructures agriculture infrastructures

with Biological agents.with Biological agents.

(Risk have greatly increased for an (Risk have greatly increased for an international or domestic attack.)international or domestic attack.)

Definitions:Definitions:

BiosecurityBiosecurityPractices that minimize Practices that minimize

disease introduction and disease introduction and spread from one spread from one

herd/flock to another.herd/flock to another.

Definitions:Definitions:

Zoonotic DiseaseZoonotic Disease

A disease that can be A disease that can be spread from animals to spread from animals to

humans.humans.

Examples include…

Anthrax, Brucellosis, Tularemia, Plague, Encephalitis, Ebola and Q Fever.

More Definitions:More Definitions: Quarantine ZoneQuarantine Zone - The total area - The total area

designated for control by some regulatory designated for control by some regulatory agency. This zone is variable and fluid, but agency. This zone is variable and fluid, but it is best to stay with OIE standards.it is best to stay with OIE standards.

Infected ZoneInfected Zone - The area of closest - The area of closest proximity to the infected herd. This area proximity to the infected herd. This area has the tightest control. (1 kilometer )has the tightest control. (1 kilometer )

Buffer ZoneBuffer Zone - The area surrounding the - The area surrounding the Infected Zone. Usually try to control animal Infected Zone. Usually try to control animal movement only. ( 5 kilometer )movement only. ( 5 kilometer )

MorbidityMorbidity - The number of animals infected. - The number of animals infected.

MortalityMortality - The number of animals that die. - The number of animals that die.

FADDFADD - - Foreign Animal Disease Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician Diagnostician a specifically trained a specifically trained government veterinarian.government veterinarian.

Index HerdIndex Herd - The first herd or flock exhibiting - The first herd or flock exhibiting symptoms in a disease outbreak.symptoms in a disease outbreak.

Even More Definitions:Even More Definitions:

Cleaning and DisinfectionCleaning and Disinfection - The cleaning - The cleaning and disinfection of facilities, vehicles and and disinfection of facilities, vehicles and perhaps personnel to implement perhaps personnel to implement biosecurity.biosecurity.

DepopulationDepopulation - In today’s scenario, the - In today’s scenario, the destruction and disposal of infected, and destruction and disposal of infected, and possibly exposed animals.possibly exposed animals.

Last, But Not Least, Last, But Not Least, of the Definitions:of the Definitions:

HumanHuman – Smallpox, Cholera, Shigellosis – Smallpox, Cholera, Shigellosis

ZoonoticZoonotic – Anthrax, Brucellosis, Tularemia, Plague, – Anthrax, Brucellosis, Tularemia, Plague, Encephalitis, Ebola, & Q FeverEncephalitis, Ebola, & Q Fever

AnimalAnimal – FMD, Avian Influenza, New Castle, – FMD, Avian Influenza, New Castle, Rinderpest, Hog Cholera, Blue TongueRinderpest, Hog Cholera, Blue Tongue

Why Zoonotic?Why Zoonotic? Controllable, Many in nature, Animal Models – Controllable, Many in nature, Animal Models –

Testing/Production, Politically Legitimate to ResearchTesting/Production, Politically Legitimate to Research

Types of Bioterrorism AgentsTypes of Bioterrorism Agents

Highly Infectious & Contagious (FAD)Highly Infectious & Contagious (FAD)

Good Ability to Survive in EnvironmentGood Ability to Survive in Environment

Predictable Morbidity/MortalityPredictable Morbidity/Mortality

Pathogenic for Livestock & PoultryPathogenic for Livestock & Poultry

Available & Easy to Acquire or ProduceAvailable & Easy to Acquire or Produce

Attributable to Natural Outbreak – DeniableAttributable to Natural Outbreak – Deniable

Easily DisseminatedEasily Disseminated

Bioterrorism Pathogens For Bioterrorism Pathogens For Livestock - CriteriaLivestock - Criteria

““What happens when…”What happens when…”

Flow of an Animal Health EmergencyFlow of an Animal Health Emergency

Livestock ProducerLivestock Producer Local VeterinarianLocal Veterinarian

Regulatory VeterinarianRegulatory Veterinarian

SEMASEMA

Local Local Emergency Emergency ManagementManagement

Animal Animal ControlControl Local Law Local Law

EnforcementEnforcementLocal Fire Local Fire and Rescueand Rescue

Other State Other State Agencies, Agencies, Health, MoDOT, Health, MoDOT, Highway Patrol, Highway Patrol, Conservation, Conservation, GuardGuard

Federal Federal AgenciesAgencies

USDA, EPA, USDA, EPA, FDA, FBI, FDA, FBI, CorpsCorps

FADDFADD

Thank you for supporting Thank you for supporting Missouri’s agriculture.Missouri’s agriculture.