It's a team effort to keep Canada
free from foot-and-mouth
By Jenny Dobbin
Being "farm friendly" in the face of the threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) means everyone -- inside and outside the agri-food system -- has responsibilities, says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Canada is working hard to prevent the virus from entering the country, after recent outbreaks in Europe and Argentina. The CFIA has bolstered its prevention programs and test run its emergency response plans to ensure Canada stays FMD free.
But it will take the help of producers, industry and travellers to make the system work, says Frédérique Moulin, Acting National Manager of the CFIA's Food and Animal Origin Division.
"Everyone has a responsibility for prevention," says Moulin. "Travellers are responsible to declare where they've been and what they have with them. Industry must adhere to product import rules and producers need to know where their visitors are coming from and monitor their animals."
CFIA is working to prevent the influx of the virus into Canada by:
regularly inspecting shipments of imported goods;
banning the import of live animals, semen, embryos and animal by-products (such as dry meats and cheese) not processed in a way to destroy the disease, from countries with outbreaks;
constantly retraining its veterinarians and technicians to quickly and efficiently identify cases of foot-and-mouth, and
ensuring every federally inspected slaughterhouse has an in-house CFIA veterinarian to inspect all live-animals and carcases.
To prevent the spread of the disease, persons arriving in Canada from infected countries should not bring any meat, dairy or animal products with them; should stay away from Canadian farms, ranches, zoos and parks for 14 days after arrival; and follow simple disinfectant procedures for cleaning footwear, clothing and other equipment if they have been in infected areas.
"It would seem the controls in place are effective, but there is always a risk. We want to bring that risk as low as possible in Canada," says Moulin. "If everyone cooperates, we should be successful."
FMD is not a serious threat to human health, but it represents a serious economic danger to the Canadian agricultural industry. The disease would cause the destruction of animals, decreased production, and strict limitations on Canada's export market.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe, easily spread virus affecting cattle, swine, sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed animals. It does not often kill infected animals, but causes fever and blister-like sores on the tongue, lips, mouth, teats and between the hooves, leaving animals weak and debilitated.
Canada has been free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) since 1952.
For more information on foot-and-mouth disease and related restrictions and regulations, contact the CFIA at 1-877-227-0677 or visit their Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.
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