5th February 2012

VDAC Encourages Virginian Travelers To Be Responsible

Published Date: June 19, 2010

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) reminds travelers who come in contact with livestock, poultry and other animals when traveling abroad that they may be at risk of introducing foreign animal diseases (FADs) into Virginia or other states. Most travelers are eager to move through the airport quickly upon their return home and may decide not to announce that they have been around animals. Those travelers might save themselves some time in the customs line, but they might also inadvertently introduce something like Foot and Mouth Disease into the United States. Many of these foreign animal diseases are highly contagious and are very destructive to vulnerable animal populations. Some may also cause disease in humans.

So, VDACS offers some suggestions on what to do before you travel and what to do upon your return to minimize transmitting diseases. Before you go, take a minute to learn the FAD status of the countries you will visit for any species of animals you may contact. Travelers to Asian, South American or African countries in particular should be sure to check FAD and avian influenza status. For example, several Asian nations are currently experiencing a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Veterinarians, farmers, laboratory workers, zoo personnel and others who have regular contact with livestock and commercial animals need to take extra precautions while in those countries so they do not bring this disease home with them.

All travelers need to remember these tips upon their return:

• Remember you are our nation’s first defense in keeping FADs out of the U.S.  A few extra minutes in customs or disinfecting footware and clothing is a small price to pay when considered against the disastrous effects of introducing a disease.

• Declare all contacts with livestock, poultry and other animals upon your return to the U.S.  If the customs agent doesn’t ask, volunteer that information.

• Do not bring meat or poultry products back to the U.S. from countries with FADs. As a general rule, bring only approved processed products instead of fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, meats, eggs or even cut flowers. Often you can buy products in an international airport that are approved for travel to the U.S.

• Maintain recommended isolation from livestock and poultry upon return to the United States if you had animal contact in FAD countries. Contact includes your own animals, neighbors, fairs, shows, sales or any public gathering where livestock or poultry are present.

• Today’s world is small and flat in terms of people and product movement, so be a responsible traveler and observe rules about disinfecting clothing, footware, equipment cases, camera cases and other objects that may have come in contact with the ground. In one recent case of Foot and Mouth Disease, a worker in a pork plant received a bundle of clothing and work boots from his home in a different region. He wore them on the job and, as a result, introduced the disease to the production site, which then spread rapidly to neighboring areas.

“We’d don’t want to alarm travelers,” says Dr. Richard Wilkes, Virginia’s State Veterinarian and Director of VDACS’ Division of Animal and Food Industry Services, “but we also want people to be aware of their potential role as a disease carrier and to take a few precautions to ensure they and their luggage come home to Virginia clean and disease-free.”

For more information on FADs and the disease status of many countries, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_disease_status.shtml.

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