A foreign animal disease is foreign only so long as it remains in a foreign country. Once it enters America it becomes a domestic problem of the highest order. Even the domestic diseases, the parameters of which are widely known, are constantly gnawing at our industry and world trade. The Salmonella organisms in our poultry have begun to place barricades in our commercial avenues, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in lost trade. These bacteria cause a disease that appears to some that we have chosen to live with. Surely, we continue to fight it, but the battle is far from being won. Foreign disease outbreaks can generate consequences that are beyond our realm of comprehension. The fallout, from which, may require a huge amount of damage control and repair.

Let us look at history and review one of the more salient aspects when foreign animal disease is introduced into a free country. There are those who believe that food-and-mouth disease led to the devaluation of the pound in England. Foot-and-mouth disease was introduced into America through garbage on a ship. When it comes to disease, foreign or domestic, few countries have conferred immunity. That is the subject I wish to discuss today.

How do we begin to adequately prepare for the introduction of a serious foreign animal disease into America? The first thing one thinks about is funding! Funding is seldom made available in the absence of a plan. Your banker will not set aside a contingency loan based on maybes, possibilities, and probabilities when you have no plan. This is no doubt true here. There must be a plan! A contingency plan that can be put in place on a moment’s notice when it becomes necessary and mandatory.

This will require planning, thought, rehearsal, revision and a constant flow of information from abroad and here at home. It will require the confidence of the public, industry and taxpayers.

There have been various rehearsals dealing with simulated outbreaks of foreign animal disease. The success or inadequacies of those, I am not aware. If they have done well, they should be made part of the solution. My opening suggestions are made for your perusal, examination and constructive criticism. I believe that the Chairperson of the Foreign Diseases of Animals and Poultry should appoint a working committee.

This committee should include individuals from staff, veterinary medicine, industry, the Congress, NASDA, allied industries, and state Legislatures, including the Council of State Governments.

The professional persons should include those with expertise in the field of virology, bacteriology and epidemiology. Scientists from foreign countries, who have demonstrated expertise about the specific disease, should be on call. A large pool of expertise, experience and diplomacy exists in the federal and state employees who have recently retired or have accepted the buyout. This group should be placed on call to be utilized when and if a disaster should strike.

This group of people should develop a contingency plan by establishing avenues of pursuit, communication and methodology. The states can and must be involved from the beginning of any action, planned or otherwise. There are several options for the states. They could act individually; some may choose to join with other small nearby states; and in some instances a regional approach may be used. The Chairperson’s Committee must work closely with state personnel.

The states would establish a standing committee to act with a national committee as resources differ among the states. Should two or more states act as a unit, there must be ample opportunity for identified persons to work and plan together. The same would be true of those who wish to use the regional concept. Drills should be conducted in various sections of this country with team personnel. A critical analysis should follow each drill and the following drill should be organized to improve upon the process.

A study of the various state laws and regulations must be made and understood. There are states that can quarantine a poultry house or a vehicle. Some states have little or no power in the prevention of disease spread and the actions necessary for suppression. There may be instances where new state statutes will need to be promulgated. If this cannot be done, alternative approaches may be taken that may approximate the same end.

A study should be made of the ways to dispose of animals should there be widespread depopulation. There should be an understanding of environmental and public health laws and regulations within the states.

Any and all information about disease problems must be factual and free from hyperbole. One of the more valuable aspects of damage control is the prevention of the damage in the beginning. Experts in rumor control must be in charge of the flow of information. In many instances, this will be state representative who will be assigned the duties of picking up the pieces after the problem subsides.

Most countries that are world leaders, including America, have standing armed forces, tanks, planes, munitions, ammunition and intelligence forces. This is to protect our citizens and those things which they love. Does not our food industry deserve the same protection from the invasion of serious foreign diseases? The plan I have presented is not a finished product. It is the beginning of an organized nationwide defense against disease. With the expertise, experience and enthusiasm here today, major improvements can and will be made. An organized, nationwide preparation, with nationwide involvement, is highly necessary. It is time to begin mobilization.

To make all this happen we must increase public awareness of what veterinary medicine is doing in behalf of public health. I am told there are more than 60 communicable diseases capable of transmission between animals, birds and human beings. This is very visible within the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) problem in Great Britain. I recognize the need for more medical training on diagnosis of these various human ailments because of my involvement as a trustee with a medium-sized hospital. I fear that a close friend of mine died of an avian disease that wasn’t diagnosed in time, while we in agriculture were aware of disease in the area. We must develop better procedures in this arena as well.

The fact that we are openly recognizing these needs, both from domestic and national points of view, gives us encouragement to proceed.