Farmers Cancel Overseas Trip Due to Foot and Mouth Disease Scare
Provost ranchers Wyett and Marion Swanson had been planning a two week tour to Switzerland to see ex-trainees—but made the decision to call off the trip because they didn’t want to risk bringing the contagious disease back into Canada.
The disease is devastating the beef industry in Britain and there have been some reports of it in France and The Netherlands.
They were planning on leaving by plane tomorrow, April 5 but says Marion when the disease hit the continent “we thought it was too risky.” Their hosts in Switzerland said that they expected and understood the Swansons’ concern and subsequent decision.
“Our own line of defense starts at home” says Swanson who adds that they were also planning to host friends from England, Australia and Switzerland this summer but are reluctantly asking them to reschedule their trips for another time. She hopes other people make similar arrangements to help “prevent this horrible thing that could happen.” Lakeland College has also announced that it is cancelling a student exchange trip with The Netherlands.
The disease has not been detected in Switzerland but if it would have been when they were there, the couple would have to be quarantined for 14 days.
Swansons own a large cow-calf and feed operation six miles north east of Provost.
Instead of heading east the couple will head west to the coast. “We can always go back (to Switzerland) another day” adds Marion.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has also been reported in Argentina, Russia, Turkey, Africa, Asia, the Middle east and South America according to the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association.
FMD is a very contagious viral disease that affects cattle and pigs, sheep, goats, deer, elk and other cloven hoofed animals. It causes blisters and ulcers on the mouth, tongue, lips, feet and teats.
The Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association general manager says that members of his industry are concerned and “very nervous” about a possible outbreak. But Ron Axelson of Calgary said in a phone conversation with The News that common sense and awareness of the matter are their biggest asset. They are meanwhile preparing to send out 15,000 pamphlets regarding the disease.
The association urges people to avoid visiting countries where there is an acute outbreak of the disease. The association also advises people that do visit such a country not to go to farms or areas with livestock; not to bring any meat, dairy or other animal products back; disinfect clothes (by dry cleaning), and equipment like suitcases and cameras by using a solution of 50 percent water and 50 percent bleach), burn footwear—and take a thorough shower before arriving home. After returning in Canada those travellers should stay away from farms and rural areas for at least 14 days.
While the FMD outbreak continues people should not host any farm tours or allow visits of anyone on the farm who has recently been in Europe.
The livestock disease outbreak has so far affected over 700 farms in Britain.
Some municipal politicians may ask school districts to cancel trips to Europe for fear that students might bring the disease back to their rural communities.
If the disease is found in Canada it will result in the immediate closure of borders for the export of live cattle, meat, sheep, goats and swine including other by-products like semen, embryos and hides. The borders would be closed until the disease is eliminated in Canada.
The beef industry was worth almost $2.8 billion to Alberta in 1998.
Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
© All material on this website is copyright by The Provost News, Holmes Publishing Co. Ltd., and Internet Alberta Inc.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or other use is prohibited without permission of The Provost News, Holmes Publishing Co. Ltd., or Internet Alberta Inc. |
|