June 2007 Archives

Jason B. Moats writes in his new book, Agroterrorism: A Guide for First Responders, that "In many cases, the communities most ill-prepared to deal with . . . terrorism incidents are the rural communities that provide . . . food and crops."

This manual is specifically designed to help rural communities prepare for an act of agroterrorism. The author lists known biological and chemical agents and their effects, explains model systems for supporting emergency response efforts, and lays out proven plans for gathering personnel and other resources in an orderly, coordinated way. He spells out who should do what and when, providing a critically needed path through the bureaucratic maze of state, national, and interagency homeland security directives. It closes with a training program including practical exercises.

Agroterrorism: A Guide for First Responders contains resources vital for America's rural communities, agriculture sector that is important to our nation.

It is available at: http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2007/moats.htm

Now that it is almost summer, bat sightings are more common in parts of Texas. Some that migrated south to spend the winter in warmer climates have returned and the peak of the maternity season for bats is from May through August.

Young bats may not be adept at flying just yet, so some may end up on the ground. Also, the mother bat may carry her young with her as she flies. She may occasionally land on the ground and rest awhile. In either case, bats may be encountered on the ground during the summer. Although they may not be sick, people need to avoid direct exposure with any bat.

If a bat comes into contact with a person, an adult should attempt to capture the bat without direct skin contact. If the bat is not available for testing, a physician or local health department should be contacted to assess the exposure.

If a person finds a bat in a building, there has been NO human or pet exposure, and an adult is available and willing, capture the bat and release it outside in an area distant from people. The adult should wear gloves and use a paper, shovel (gently), or other object to pick up the bat. A bat may look dead, but "comes to life" when it is picked up. For bats on walls in a building:

• Cover the bat with a coffee can or a box.
• Gently slip a piece of paper between the can or box and the wall so that the bat is trapped inside the container. The paper serves as a lid.
• Transport the bat in the container.

Most cities have animal control officers who will be happy to help with the bat removal.

The maternity season (May to August) is not an ideal time to exclude bats that have taken up residence in a building attic or other roost because the young are not yet able to fly. If exclude adults now, you may trap young in the roost. The bat exclusion techniques are best applied in early spring or in the fall.

Bats like to swoop down and grab a drink from standing water, such as a farm pond or swimming pool. They are not attacking people in or around the pond or pool. If a bat is ill, it could end up crashing into the pool. Homeowners sometimes find a dead bat floating in the pool or in the pool's "skimmer." In either case, the health risk to people who might swim in the pool is remote.

The rabies virus does not live well outside the animal.
Any virus in the bat would be diluted by the volume of water in the pool.
The chlorine in the pool water would inactivate the virus.

There has been talk of a new vaccine that protects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer against the highly contagious foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Officials are saying that the vaccine has effectiveness within 7 days from administration giving the animal immunity for 21 days up to 6 months. Edward B. Knipling is quoted as saying, “This signals tremendous promise. Although this is still an experimental vaccine, it has made significant development progress, and we are optimistic about its prospects.”

This vaccine is the first FMD vaccine that has been produced by the U.S. If proven effective, the federal government will create a stockpile in the event FMD is found in the U.S.

Currently if an animal tests positive for FMD there is no way to determine if it had been vaccinated or actually came into contact with the virus. With this vaccine, it is possible to tell if the animal tests positive due to vaccination.

FMD is a devastating disease that effects cloven-hoofed animals (or two-toed animals). If FMD occurs in the U.S. it would have severe consequences on the economy and hurt the agriculture industry as a whole. The U.S. has been FMD free since 1929, but it still remains a significant threat.