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News Release 12-14-1999 |
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CHARLESTON, W.VA. - As chair of the United States Secretary of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases, West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Gus R. Douglass remains a strong advocate of international trade while maintaining a critical examination of threats to animal and human health. Commissioner Douglass wants to expand our agricultural trade opportunities, but not sacrifice the high standards of animal health that are maintained by the State Departments of Agriculture. "As we work in a global marketplace, we have to protect our industry and ourselves from diseases that would have never been a problem for us in the past," Commissioner Douglass said. "Our great concern is that as we trade with other countries, their animal health problems could spread to our farms. Anytime you risk the possibility of a foreign disease outbreak, you create greater expense to the producer and increase the cost to the consumer. Additionally, large scale outbreaks often require massive depopulations which can destroy the total livelihood of a farmer and may result in the loss of a major commodity for a region. If our poultry industry was infected, our annual economy could face a $200 million loss. When you expand the area infected to the entire nation, the damage becomes staggering." Due to the possibility of contamination, the scope of the Committee goes beyond agriculture. "It is important to remember that many diseases that affect animals can be transmitted to humans, so public health must be a vital concern in our decisions," Commissioner Douglass said. "Until our medical community is better educated to the symptoms and diagnosis of animal diseases, we must be vigilant in protecting our livestock and poultry, not just as a resource of food, but also as a potential vector of disease." Another safeguard for the public is the development of countermeasures and procedures in the event of a bioterrorist attack. "It seems strange to some people that the Department of Agriculture would have a role in protecting the country from terrorism," Commissioner Douglass said. "However, our laboratories and veterinarians are better equipped to respond to a bioterrorist attack than medical doctors. Every day our laboratories are inspecting animals for many of the diseases that terrorists might use to harm our citizens or damage our food supply. Without being an alarmist, our Committee has initiated several programs to increase communication and response time in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Prevention is the key, and the resources available to the United States Department of Agriculture must play a role as an effective defense." Commissioner Douglass' appointment as chair will expire December 2, 2000. This is his second appointment to the Committee. For more information, contact Bill Bissett, 304-558-3708. |
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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