Hoof and Mouth

[Pony]

I don't know why they would want to move this operation to the mainland. Does anyone here have an idea why the guv'mnt wants to do this?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/...animal_disease

"By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 11, 3:55 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is likely to move its research on one of the most contagious animal diseases from an isolated island laboratory to the U.S. mainland near herds of livestock, raising concerns about a catastrophic outbreak.

Skeptical Democrats in Congress are demanding to see internal documents they believe highlight the risks and consequences of the decision. An epidemic of the disease, foot and mouth, which only affects animals, could devastate the livestock industry.

One such government report, produced last year and already turned over to lawmakers by the Homeland Security Department, combined commercial satellite images and federal farm data to show the proximity to livestock herds of locations that have been considered for the new lab. "Would an accidental laboratory release at these locations have the potential to affect nearby livestock?" asked the nine-page document. It did not directly answer the question.

It was a mess," said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., who portrayed the president in the 2002 exercise. Now, like other lawmakers from the states under consideration, Roberts supports moving the government's new lab to his state. Manhattan, Kan., is one of five mainland locations under consideration. "It will mean jobs" and spur research and development, he says.

The other possible locations for the new National Bio-and Agro-Defense Facility are Athens, Ga.; Butner, N.C.; San Antonio; and Flora, Miss. The new site could be selected later this year, and the lab would open by 2014. The numbers of livestock in the counties and surrounding areas of the finalists range from 542,507 in Kansas to 132,900 in Georgia, according to the Homeland Security study.

Foot-and-mouth virus can be carried on a worker's breath or clothes, or vehicles leaving a lab, and is so contagious it has been confined to Plum Island, N.Y., for more than a half-century — far from commercial livestock. The existing lab is 100 miles northeast of New York City in the Long Island Sound, accessible only by ferry or helicopter. Researchers there who work with the live virus are not permitted to own animals at home that would be susceptible, and they must wait at least a week before attending outside events where such animals might perform, such as a circus.

Frankly, I find this alarming.

Pony!

[silentcrow]

Very scary! As to why...(conspiracy theory here), What better way to get mandatory institution of NAIS?

[Ross]

I thought people could get hoof and mouth, different symptoms same virus. That is an odd thought to move it of and island which sounds perfect for the sort of work but surely people can bring it off the island too. Shoes etc are the main vector for contamination acid wash foot baths the best defence.

[jim]

Hoof and mouth disease does not affect poeple.Hand,foot and mouth disease does.They are not the same thing.

[Ross]

Well it appears as if it can infect humans but with much different if any symptoms.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7286/565

No idea how credible a site it is but there were others with similar info.

[Sabrina67]

I was thnking the same thing as Silent Crow...

[Callieslamb]

like Silent Crow and Sabrina

[krondor2]

A new facility at Plum Island is technically a possibility. Signs point to a mainland site, however, after the administration spent considerable time and money scouting new locations. Also, there are financial concerns about operating from a location accessible only by ferry or helicopter.

now the government want to save money?
+

[Pony]

Originally Posted by silentcrow

Very scary! As to why...(conspiracy theory here), What better way to get mandatory institution of NAIS?

Of course, we're so afraid of being thought of as conspiracy kooks, we won't say that it certainly appears to be a great way to cause a serious scare in the food supply... If we did say that, people would offer us rolls of aluminum foil and start teasing us about black helicopters.

What's really interesting to me is that they ran a worst-case scenario and it was, to quote a participant, "A mess." Come on? Why put the majority of the nation's food supply at risk?

And why in the world aren't people concerned about this????

It boggles the mind.

Pony!

[Jay]

And why in the world aren't people concerned about this????

It boggles the mind.

Pony!
Because, just like the "Farm Bill"--they don't think it "applies to them".
The majority of the "public" are oblivious to what REALLY goes on.
We are the few who raise an eyebrow and think "Hmmmmm-what's up with THAT?!"

Oh, Yes, lets put it on the mainland, so bad people (insert your favorite word here!) can mess with it and cause problems....for the rest of us!
Another "stepping stone" for the gov't to dictate, I mean, keep track of "us" type of people.

[Beaners]

Like I said on the other thread, this is a HUGE goldmine for terrorists, homegrown or otherwise.

How easy would it be for them to do a little bit of damage and get this released, and then sit back and watch the chaos ensue? They are already acknowledging that if this is released it will cause mayhem.

Kayleigh

[RedHogs]

Noone has stopped to think that this center is very important to herd health in the US...Many, Many disorders are to be studied.....An outbreak on the mainland is inevitable....

To combat this a center must employ the very best and brightest...To attract these scientists, the work enviroment and yes, the location must not be horrible....This is an attempt to lure away some corporate nerds....We need these guys working on cures and vaccines....They aren't taking the jobs now.

Now....go back to the conspriacey theory nonsense.

[Farmerwilly2]

Nothing like a good knee jerk to get the blood flowing. I think I'll go home and sleep peacefully again tonight knowing full well the sky is not falling.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Farmerwilly2

Nothing like a good knee jerk to get the blood flowing. I think I'll go home and sleep peacefully again tonight knowing full well the sky is not falling.

I figured a post like this would come along...

Just ignoring something like this will not make it go away, and bringing it up for consideration is hardly being Chicken Little. I find it rather irritating that you discount the whole issue by simply referencing a falling sky...

But, perhaps I am wrong, and you really think this is a good government move.

Does the plan actually make sense to you?

If so, why?

Pony!

[Beaners]

The part I don't get is why they say it is a bad idea, and then say maybe they will do it anyways.

You just said it was a bad idea! Duh!

Kayleigh

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by Pony

Just ignoring something like this will not make it go away, and bringing it up for consideration is hardly being Chicken Little. I find it rather irritating that you discount the whole issue by simply referencing a falling sky.!

Since it appears that the most vociferous of the HT membership doesn't give a ---- about the health and lives of their children via refusing vaccinations, why should anyone here be more concerned about their animals?

Martin

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Since it appears that the most vociferous of the HT membership doesn't give a ---- about the health and lives of their children via refusing vaccinations, why should anyone here be more concerned about their animals?

Martin

<dodging ball from left field> Huh?I'm not quite sure what your point is there, Martin. Many of us (probably most of us), and our children, are vaccinated. Most people have seen the research that vindicates vaccines from causing autism and all sorts of other disorders. And I know that I'm grateful not to have gotten polio, diphtheria, and smallpox.

But that's neither here nor there, and has nothing to do with the question at hand.

It's still goofy to put a program in place that has already proved disastrous during mock setups, isn't it? The program as it is run has proven to be the most effective way to operate it.

Heck, maybe it's because I'm from IL, where the government spends like a sailor on leave, but I think money spent in doing research in a way that is already working is way smarter than inviting the disease into the general population.

Pony!

[wildhorse]

Its not just hoof and mouth that they could be dealing with they are a level 3 facility which could handle these....
Anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, SARS, Tuberculosis, Typhus, Rift Valley fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Yellow fever.