FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2001
Contact: Mark Anthony, ODA Communications at 614-752-9817
REYNOLDSBURG
– In an open letter to farmers and others in the state’s agriculture
industry, Ohio Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey asked for individuals to
assist the department in watching for potential follow-up acts of terrorism. He
said the Ohio Department of Agriculture veterinarians, livestock inspectors, and
other field personnel, in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), have been on “full alert” since the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This letter was published in the agriculture
department’s external newsletter and will be distributed directly to key
agriculture and food industry representatives with whom the agency interacts.
“Our
state’s livestock, animal feed, and human food and water supply are
acknowledged by experts as potential vehicles for biological attack,” Dailey
warned in the letter. “Some of the products used for animal health, plant
growth, pest control, and public health protection can be misused as potential
agents to attack people or places.”
Both
President Bush and experts outside his administration have indicated that should
a second attack occur, it may be in the form of chemical or biological weapons,
Dailey noted. Such an attack could be designed to cause economic damage or
hardship to a segment of our agricultural economy.
The
agriculture department’s more intense approach to surveillance began as a
response to an Emergency Management Notice sent nationwide to USDA-APHIS on
Sept. 11 and forwarded to state agriculture agencies the next morning. It
specifically warned agriculture officials to increase Foreign Animal Disease
(FAD) surveillance nationwide.
Dailey
issued recommendations to fertilizer dealers, livestock producers,
veterinarians, farm managers, and farm employees to report anything suspicious
pertaining to animal diseases, fertilizer purchases, inventories and shipments,
personnel, and building and property security. He also asked them to conduct
proper emergency training of employees in accordance with local, state, and
federal requirements.
Anyone
suspecting problems or discovering evidence of tampering or trespassing is asked
to notify local law enforcement officials immediately. All symptoms of potential
foreign animal disease should be reported to Ohio Department of Agriculture’s
toll-free number, 1-800-300-9755. Those with other questions about the
department’s procedures and plans to respond to bioterrorism threats should
call the department toll-free at 1-800-282-1955.
-30-
Note
to editors: Please see “Open
Letter to Owners, Operators of Ag Enterprises.”