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Foot and Mouth Disease Measures
Routine Biosecurity Measures for On-site Farm Visits or Other Livestock
Concentration Points
Biological security measures are becoming standard in many agricultural
sectors. These controls, meant to minimize the risk of disease introduction and
spread, can vary greatly according to operation and type of site visit. To
address concerns from farm owners/producers, USDA personnel must take steps to
ensure a reasonable level of biosecurity protection. Often, owners/producers may
have more stringent biosecurity measures, and those should be followed instead.
Minimum Biosecurity Measures
- Avoid livestock areas, pens, barns, etc., unless it is necessary to
complete the goal of the visit.
- Park your vehicle on paved or concrete areas, away from production sites
on farm, to avoid contact with dirt, mud or manure. If not possible, be
certain that tires are free of dirt and debris by hosing the tires and wheel
wells before leaving the premises. If this does not clean the tires
adequately, take the vehicle to a nearby pressure car wash.
- Wash hands with soap and water or an antibacterial gel before entering and
after leaving the premises to avoid transmitting disease agents from person
to person
Biosecurity Levels
Routine levels of biosecurity measures are described below. When in doubt as
to which level of biosecurity is needed, choose the higher level. These steps
should be repeated for each premises that is visited.
Level 1- Visits to farms or ranches that entail office or home visits
only. No contact with livestock or their housing (including pet horse or work
dog).
- Use the minimum measures outlined above
Level 2- Visits to farms or ranches where minimal contact with
livestock or their housing (barns, pens, hutches, etc) is unavoidable to attain
the goal of the visit, i.e. property appraisals, tour of production facilities.
Contact constitutes walking through animal housing or pastures where the animals
are not within reach.
- Apply minimum biosecurity measures plus
- Immediately put on clean rubber or new plastic boots upon exiting the
vehicle.
- After returning to your vehicle, clean and disinfect any equipment used
with a brush and approved EPA disinfectant solution (see listed supplies).
- Clean rubber boots with an approved EPA disinfectant diluted with water.
Scrub the bottoms of the boots with a brush to remove all dirt or debris.
Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused disinfectant
solution should not be discarded on ground.?
- If wearing plastic boots, place them in a plastic bag that should be left
on the premises for the owner/producer for disposal or place in a designated
"dirty" area of your vehicle.
- Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused
disinfectant solution should not be discarded on ground.
Level 3- Visits to farms/ranches where there will be close contact
with livestock. This includes contact such as walking through narrowly confined
pens/ lots where animals are within reach or actually handling/inspecting the
animals.
- Pre-plan the needed supplies and clothing for daily visits. Use a pair of
clean coveralls for each premises.
- Designate a "dirty" area in your vehicle for clothing and
equipment that has been used on the farm.
- Park your vehicle on paved or concrete surfaces away from production
facilities.
- Put on clean coveralls and rubber boots immediately upon exiting the
vehicle.
- After returning to your vehicle, clean and disinfect all equipment used
(including eyewear) and place all disposable supplies in a plastic bag to
leave with the owner/producer for disposal. If not possible, place plastic
bag in the "dirty" area of the vehicle and dispose of in a manner
that prevents exposure to other livestock.
- Clean rubber boots with an approved EPA disinfectant diluted with water.
Scrub the bottoms of the boots with a brush to remove all dirt or debris.
Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused disinfectant
solution should not be discarded on ground.
- Remove coveralls so that they are inside out and place in a garbage bag.
- Place the clean equipment and boots in the designated "clean"
area of the vehicle.
- If the vehicle was not parked on a paved surface, wash vehicle tires and
wheel wells to remove dirt and debris at a nearby pressure car wash.
- At the end of the day, dispose of all plastic bags that contain dirty
supplies in a manner that prevents exposure to other livestock. Launder all
coveralls. Personal hygiene should include shampooing hair and cleaning
under fingernails.
Supplies
Supplies, as needed depending on Biosecurity level, for proper biosecurity
should be purchased through each agency. Local APHIS-Veterinary Services
officials or State Veterinarian’s office may assist in locating product
vendors.
- Coveralls- Cloth or Tyvex
- Boots-?Rubber or disposable plastic boots
- Latex exam gloves
- Large water container
- EPA approved disinfectant-
- Virkon-S
- Oxonia Active/Oxycept 333
- Long handled brush
- Trash bags
- Paper towels
- Spray bottle w/ water
- Liquid and/or gel antibacterial soap
- Bucket pail
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