Mike Bell Extension Agent

1. Mike BellExtension Agent Carroll County Equal Access Programs 2008 Horse World Expo January 18, 2008 Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa state University 2006

2. “The Cough: Terror at Your Gate” Equine Biological Risk ManagementFor Horse OwnersCenter for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

3. Biological Risk Management (BRM) • Overall process of awareness education, evaluation, and management • Designed to improve infection/disease control • Foreign and domestic diseases • Provide tools to minimize risk

4. Biological Risk Management (BRM) • Disease risk cannot be totally eliminated • Animal, its environment • Decrease exposure to disease agents • Minimize threat to animals and humans • No one-size-fits-all answer

5. Overview • Importance of BRM • Risk perception and assessment • Routes of transmission • Practical management plans • Increased awareness through communication • Disease introduction and spread

6. Importance of BRM Center for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

7. Importance of BRM • Interaction of humans with animals • Rise in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases • Importance of the equine economy • Increasing globalization

8. Human-Animal Interaction

9. Human-Animal Interaction • 7.1 million people involved in the equine industry • Owners, service providers, employees, volunteers • More than 250 potential zoonoses • Important task • Understand potential health risk

10. Human-Animal Interaction • American population aging • Immunocompromised population more vulnerable to zoonoses • Young and old • Organ transplant recipients • Chemotherapy • HIV/AIDS • Diabetes

11. The Rise in Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases

13. Do Not Forget Domestic Diseases • Outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 • University of Findlay • 118 horses developed fevers • 45 horses developed neurologic signs • 14 horses died or were euthanized • All horses were previously vaccinated against herpesvirus

14. Equine Industry and Economics

15. Agriculture and Economics • 1 in 6 U.S. jobs are ag-related • 6.9 million horses • $112.1 billion impact on U.S. Gross Domestic Product

16. Agriculture and BRM • Realize the impact on the industry • Provide employment • Mitigate economic consequences of a disease outbreak

17. Global Travel and CommerceCenter for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

18. Global Travel and Commerce • Increase in personal travel • Increases risk of disease • Spread of foreign animal disease • Within a food product • On the traveler’s person • Increase in importation of animals, embryos and semen

19. Global Travel and Commerce References: CDC and APHIS

20. Global Travel and Commerce Reference: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

21. Conducting a BRM Facility Assessment

22. Components of BRM • Risk perception • Risk assessment • Routes of transmission • Risk management • Risk communication

23. Risk Perception • Different perceptions of risk • First identify what is viewed as a threat • Factors influencing perception • Previous experience • Media • Environment • Acceptance and tolerance varies

24. Risk Perception • Common beliefs • “We have always done it this way” • “I’ve had most everything on this farm” • “It’s too expensive” • New beliefs • Disease outbreaks can and do happen • Prevention is less costly than treatment • Too much is financially invested to lose • Prevention through awareness and management

25. Risk Assessment • Objective evaluation • Questions to identify strengths/weaknesses • Living documents • A starting point • Change over time • Disease prediction is complicated • Underlying disease risks are not • Horse’s vulnerability is influenced by: • Cleanliness, stress, nutrition, other management factors

26. Routes of TransmissionCenter for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

27. Routes of Transmission • Apply to all infectious agents • Animal must be exposed to develop disease • Understand different routes of transmission = Gain control • Risk areas must be identified • Design protocols to minimize exposure

28. Routes of Transmission • Spread of disease agents • Animal animal • Animal human • Different modes of transmission • Aerosol • Oral • Direct contact • Fomite • Vector-borne

29. Routes of Transmission • Herpesvirus-1 example • Complacency with endemic diseases • Increased awareness • Foreign animal disease • Bioterrorism/agroterrorism attacks • BRM will help protect against all

30. Aerosol Transmission • Disease agents contained in droplets • Pass through air • Most agents not stable in droplets • Close proximity required • Infected and susceptible animals

31. Direct Contact Transmission • Disease agent in animal or environment • Open wounds, mucous membranes, skin • Blood, saliva, nose to nose, rubbing, biting • Reproductive transmission • Breeding • Dam to offspring

32. Transmission by Fomite • Contaminated inanimate object • Carries agents to other animals • Brushes,needles • Traffic • Vehicle, trailer, humans

33. Oral Transmission • Consumption of contaminated feed, water • Feces, urine, saliva • Other contaminants • Licking/chewing contaminated environment

34. Vector-borne Transmission • Insect • Acquires pathogen from one animal • Transmits to another animal • Biological vectors • Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes • Mechanical vectors • Flies

35. Environmental Contamination • Disease organism in environment • Survive in soil, organic material • Animals and humans can acquire agent through: • Inhalation • Direct contact • Fomites • Oral consumption • Vectors

36. Disease Transmission • Animals may not exhibit obvious signs of disease • Awareness of all routes of transmission is essential • Develop strategy to minimize disease risk for livestock operation

37. The Risk Management PlanCenter for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

38. Risk Management • Facility/operation evaluated • Challenges identified • Tailored management plan • Prioritize • Easy to implement • Inexpensive yet yield rewards • No common formula

39. Risk Management • Management plan reflects • Immediate challenges • Short-term goals • Long-term goals • Many possible solutions exist • Remain open to suggestions • Recommendations vary based on individual’s experience, knowledge

40. Risk Communication • Communication is key! • Plan must be understood and supported to be effective • Success of BRM plan depends on: • How plan is carried out • Who is responsible for changes • Incorporation into daily activities

41. Risk Communication • Risk assessment designed to be all-inclusive communication tool • Feedback can be provided rapidly • Expedites awareness process • Handouts • Disinfection • Routes of transmission

42. ConclusionCenter for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

43. Key Learning Objectives • Biological risk management is important • Risk perception and acceptance differ between people • Disease risk can be managed • Awareness education is essential • You play a critical role! Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa state University 2006

44. Conclusion “Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your principle and go to work.” -H.L. Hunt

45. Acknowledgments Development of this presentation was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa state University 2006

46. Acknowledgments Authors: Reviewers: Special Thanks to: Carrie Hammer, DVM, PhD Stacy Holzbauer, DVM Danelle Bickett-Weddle, DVM, MPH Jim Roth, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVM Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM Tom Lenz, DVM, MS, Christine Woodford, DVM, MS Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa state University 2006

47. Equal Access Programs