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News
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Good biosecurity keeps animals healthy at Oregon fairs
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6/22/2011
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Article Content People play an important role in keeping animals healthy
Oregon's county fair season shifts into high gear in the next couple of weeks. Numerous shows, exhibitions, and competitions involving livestock are also on the schedule this summer. With these events comes a renewed effort to protect both animals and people from infectious disease. Whether that effort is directed at the exhibitor who brings the animals or the general public who attends, precautions are being prescribed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience at all county fairs and other events over the next several weeks.
Thankfully, a serious form of equine herpes that occupied the full attention of horse owners and veterinarians throughout the western states has apparently run its course with minimal consequences.
"Anytime owners bring their animals to a gathering or commingling with other animals, they are presented with a whole host of potential pathogens and disease," says State Veterinarian Dr. Don Hansen of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. "Therefore, it is important to rely on biosecurity for the safety of all animals that participate."
Biosecurity is defined as a set of preventive measures that are designed to minimize or eliminate the risk of infectious diseases being transmitted.
Common sense measures are at the heart of good biosecurity. For livestock owners who plan on bringing animals to events, step one is to make sure those animals are clean and healthy to begin with.
"Be aware of your animal's health before you take them to a fair or show," says Hansen. "If they appear sick or if they run a fever, consult your veterinarian. Certainly, you should not take an ailing animal anywhere under those conditions."
While at the exhibition, owners need to take steps to assure the comfort and protection of the animal during its stay.
"That includes making sure there is reasonable ventilation, that bedding is always clean and fresh, that there is always fresh water and food available to the animal- generally, making sure the animal is under minimal stress," says Hansen.
Livestock owners should not share feeding or grooming utensils between their animal and other animals. Viruses can easily be spread by contaminated objects such as water and feed buckets, bridles, and brushes. Another common vector for disease is the human hand. People should wash hands after making contact with someone else's animal and before making contact with their own, or vice-versa.
The biosecurity doesn't end when the fair or show is over. Livestock owners need to continue taking precautions as they bring their animals back home.
"The animal should be properly isolated from other animals back home for at least 7 to 14 days," says Hansen. "Hopefully the livestock is disease-free, but owners should assume the animal has been exposed to some infectious agent while it was at the fair and could be incubating a disease."
ODA's routine requirements help keep a lid on importing unwanted animal diseases. A certificate of veterinary inspection and an Oregon import permit are mandatory for all animals coming in from other states. Fair managers and event organizers can and should double check the paperwork to ensure the animal is legally cleared to be in Oregon.
Since the outbreak of the neurological form of equine herpes virus was traced to a horse show in Utah this spring, fair and show managers can take a few steps of their own to minimize the spread of disease.
"They should think about providing enough space so animals are not as likely to be nose-to-nose," says Hansen. "They should also discourage fairgoers from going down a line of stalls and touching each animal."
Fairs and shows not only attract animals, they are designed to bring in a lot of people. Two years ago, there was actually more concern about livestock catching a disease from people than from other animals. Swine flu was a major concern, and while the threat of that disease has lessened, there is more awareness of protecting animals from people as well as people from animals.
In most locations, signs are posted encouraging people to wash their hands if they interact with animals, especially if they are going to consume food. It is also recommended to keep food away from areas where livestock is kept. Immune-compromised people are especially discouraged from touching the animals.
This summer's advice to livestock owners- particularly those with horses- has not really changed from past years due to the equine herpes virus episode.
"The threat of a herpes virus reappearing is no different than it was before the show in Ogden, Utah where the recent outbreak originated," says Hansen. "Horse owners should feel confident about taking their animals to shows and exhibits this summer. But they should also understand there has always been a moderate risk of exposing their horses to a herpes virus anytime they go to a show. What happened in Ogden hasn't made that risk any higher. There are thousands of horse events all summer long in the US and we only see one or two outbreaks of the herpes virus in a whole season. People should keep that perspective as they plan activities with their horses."
The Multnomah County Fair has already taken place. Up next is the Marion County Fair and fairs in the other Oregon counties leading up to the State Fair late August. Biosecurity will be a watchword for all events.
Despite the annual concerns over animal and human health, Oregonians should feel free to embrace the cultural experience of the county fair and other agricultural-related events, including the livestock exhibits. Making sure both people and animals are healthy before and during the event will ensure they are healthy afterwards.
For more information, contact. Dr. Don Hansen, State Veterinarian, at (503) 986-4680.
Story of the Week pdf version
http://oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/110622fairs.pdf
Audio Story of the Week
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/110622fairs_audio.shtml
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