WELLSVILLE It almost looked like scenes out of a movie.

Throughout Cache Valley this week, livestock-hauling trucks were stopped for inspection at the state border. Veterinarians in biosecurity moon suits examined animals. A command center was established where the states chief veterinarian and Homeland Security officials received briefings.

While it wasnt a rehearsal for the next major medical thriller film, it was a rehearsal for something much more: The containment of the next foreign animal disease (FAD) to hit Cache Valley or the state of Utah.

Veterinarians and public safety responders from Utah and Idaho came together at the Caine Dairy Teaching and Research Center over three days to conduct a large-scale FAD exercise, sponsored by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The exercise, from July 31 through Aug. 2, included classroom training on topics of biosecurity on the farm, strengthening community agro-security planning, livestock inspection, pathogenic control and more.

It was the first time the UDAF has actually staged such an exercise. The UDAF reviews its procedures at formal meetings every year.

If you think about a disease outbreak coming to Cache Valley, and if we were only to contain it to Cache Valley, and it didnt go anywhere else, (the FAD) would still have devastating effects, said Bruce King, Utahs chief veterinarian, during a media briefing during the exercise Wednesday. Id predict 24 hours later, before we can even get our arms around this disease, probably most of the dairies in Cache Valley would be infected ... because of all of the (interaction) between agriculture we have today in a worldwide farming industry.

Foreign animal diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) and foot-and-mouth-disease can damage consumer confidence in the vibrant U.S. food supply market. Officials say the combined value of both states livestock revenue tops $4 billion $3.2 billion for Idaho and $1 billion for Utah.

A FAD can also lead to costly trade embargoes by foreign countries, King said.

Its a disease that scares us in this business because if we diagnose it in the United States, no matter where it happens, we could automatically lose all of the export market, King said of foot-and-mouth disease. The price of meat, the price of milk would all go in the crapper, for lack of a better term.

View post:
Veterinarians, public safety responders rehearse animal disease outbreak in Cache County