Category Archives: Just My Thoughts
Memories fade, but lessons linger
This year marks the 15th anniversary of both the 9-11 attacks in the United States and the horrific outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom. One was an act of terrorism; one was a terrifying consequence of an accidental … Continue reading
FMD: What’s in a name?
Say “foot-and-mouth disease” really fast. (Foot-and-mouth disease.) Did you blur the “and” into an “in”? Every comedian wannabe is having a hay day with this one. As my father-in-law says, you don’t need to know much to have an opinion. … Continue reading
NIAA Foot-and-Mouth Disease Symposium
Fostering a New Preparedness Paradigm: Facilitating a Conversation Among Public and Private Sector Stakeholders Thinking about a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak is not really high on farmers’ lists of things to do. It’s not on their daily agenda of concerns … Continue reading
Worldwide Effort Focuses on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
After the announcement of the eradication of rinderpest in 2011 there was some buzz that foot-and-mouth disease might be next in the quest to rid the world of devastating animal diseases. In conjunction with the Global Conference on Foot-and-Mouth Disease … Continue reading
Milk Truck Cleaning and Disinfection Drill in Orwell, VT
Orwell, VT – On Saturday, March 31st, UVM Extension, the Addison County Decontamination Team, Orwell Fire Department and Orwell Rescue participated in an on-farm milk truck cleaning and disinfection drill. The drill allowed local responders to meet their training goals … Continue reading
Time for an Insurance Check Up
Think your insurance carrier covers foot-and-mouth disease? Think again! When is the last time you reviewed your farm insurance coverage really closely? Reading your policy at bedtime may take care of insomnia, but will it ensure your policy meets your … Continue reading
Your Role in Preparation? Being Part of the Conversation
The AFRI biosecurity project held its first Public Issue Forum in Vergennes on September 14. The goals of the forum were to provide background on the impact a highly contagious animal disease emergency (for instance, foot-and-mouth disease) could have on … Continue reading
Time to Remember; Time to Prepare
As the US marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this month, those in animal health circles are also marking the 10th anniversary of the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom. The disease was first confirmed … Continue reading
Why worry about FMD here in Vermont?
Those of us working to build preparedness among farmers and farm communities to withstand a highly contagious animal disease disaster like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) often get questions along the lines of these: “Don’t the veterinarians already have a plan in … Continue reading
Texting O K
What should you do if you want to know your family is safe after a weather, terror, or other emergency event? Text first. Talk second. The Safe America Foundation has launched a “text first/talk second” campaign coinciding with the anniversary … Continue reading
