FMD
Info Meeting Held
Livestock producers, veterinarians and public health officials statewide
are on guard. Although the European outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
has died down and the hot, dry summer weather reduces the threat,
the potential impact of an outbreak in the Colorado remains in the
back of their minds.
Colorado
State University Extension, in conjunction with the Colorado
Department of Agriculture, has been holding informational meetings
throughout the state. At their meetings, protocols regarding outbreak
response plans were provided and reviewed.
Recently,
at the Adams County office of CSU Extension, a meeting
was held for public officials and extension agents throughout the
Front Range region. Response procedures in the case of an emergency
animal disease occurrence were covered. From the first suspected incident
through the management and control of an FMD outbreak, plans for regional,
state and federal officials are in place.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects
cloven-hooved animals. FMD is dreaded by livestock producers because
it is economically devastating and causes severe losses of meat and
milk production.
For more information on foot-and-mouth disease visit Colorado State
University at www.footandmouth.colostate.edu or contact your local CSU Extension agent.
