A spokesperson for Canada’s livestock industry is calling on Ottawa to establish permanent agricultural inspection stations at international airports to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country.
Because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in the United Kingdom and Europe, Canada has implemented temporary measures to stop the disease from gaining a foothold here.
Each day, thousands of travelers arrive in Canada from Africa, parts of South America and Europe where foot-and-mouth has been diagnosed. Along with the travelers comes the possibility that the disease will be carried on their clothes or in smuggled food and plants.
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“We virtually live with the risk on a daily basis,” said Rob McNabb, assistant manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
People arriving in Canada must walk on disinfectant mats, are questioned about traveling to farms and inspectors use dogs to sniff for banned products in luggage.
McNabb said these should be a permanent protocol at international airports to keep the disease from entering Canada.
“It would cost pennies to save millions,” said McNabb.
If foot-and-mouth comes to Canada, McNabb estimated it would cost the beef industry $26 billion and the pork industry $13 billion in lost sales.
Add in the cost of slaughter, cleanup and disinfecting farms, and the amount rises.
McNabb said foot-and-mouth will be controlled in the United Kingdom and Europe and the airport precautions will be removed. But the risk to Canada’s agriculture industry will remain.
As well as precautions at airports, the CCA and other livestock organizations must increase awareness about the hazards of allowing foreign visitors on farms, said McNabb.
Carl Block, chair of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition, said the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Europe shows the importance of good communication in the livestock industry.
The health coalition is a newly formed group of livestock industry organizations and government that wants to work more closely with the inspection agency on animal health issues.
“We want to be more involved with strategic planning. We think we have a role to play.”
McNabb said a November 2000 simulation of a North American foot-and-mouth outbreak showed the importance of speed in closing roads and cutting off movement of animals.
“The big unknown is how quickly we can mobilize. I’m not comfortable a solid plan is in place.”
