Food Defense in the 21st Century: How USDA APHIS Protects our Food Supply

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Food Defense in the 21st CenturyHow USDA APHIS
Protects our Food Supply

• Third International Symposium on Agroterrorism
• April 24, 2008

John R. Clifford, D.V.M.Deputy Administrator,
Veterinary Services (VS) Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
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Agriculture is a Possible Target
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Economic Importance of Agriculture

• Food and fiber contributed 1.25 trillion dollars
  to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2006
• About 24 million Americans are employed in some
  aspect of agriculture
• Agriculture is heavily tied to other industries
  and sectors
• A disease outbreak would indirectly impact other
  industries, such as transportation and tourism

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Impact of Agroterrorism

• Disruption of the agricultural economy
• Engendering fear and decreasing consumer
  confidence in the U.S. food supply
• Disabling our ability to export U.S. products
• In 2007 almost 82 billion exported in
  agricultural commodities (up from 51 billion in
  2000)

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Recognition of Agroterrorism

• Clustering of morbidity or mortality
• Large numbers of animals
• Overwhelming mortality
• Normally healthy populations affected
• Unusual symptoms
• Additional concurrent outbreaks
• Attempts to trace the disease agent are
  unsuccessful

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If Agroterrorism is Suspected

• Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism
  Task Force would lead the investigative efforts
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would
  coordinate the Federal response
• USDA APHIS would continue to lead the response
  specific to animal health concerns

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Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) as a Bioterrorism
Agent

• Disease eradicated from United States in 1929
• Easy to obtain, spreads quickly, and is difficult
  to control
• Introduction would have significant psychological
  impact on consumers
• Economic impact on livestock industry would be
  devastating
• FMD is widely considered the number one
  agricultural threat to the United States

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FMD Potential Impact

• Animals at risk in the United States
• 100 million cattle
• 60 million swine
• 7 million sheep
• 40 million wildlife
• Horses not at risk
• FMD is not readily
• transmissible to humans

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FMD Economic Impact

• Economic impact can be substantial
• Losses from export
• High morbidity and mortality
• FMD outbreak in Taiwan in 1997
• 184,000 swine depopulated
• 4 million swine depopulated as part of the
  eradication program
• FMD outbreak in United Kingdom in 2001
• 10 million animals depopulated
• Secondary losses (such as tourism)
• 2001 FMD outbreak in the United Kingdom cost
  about 17.4 billion (in U.S. dollars)

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Is it Agroterrorism?

• APHIS laboratories may be the first to detect a
  deliberately introduced disease organism
• In the first hours/days a deliberate
  introduction may clinically appear accidental
• An incident which involves multiple locations or
  numerous species might indicate an agroterrorism
  attack

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USDA Leadership Role in Animal Disease

• Secretary of Agriculture has statutory authority
  and leadership role to protect American
  agriculture and animal health
• APHIS carries out the authorities of the Animal
  Health Protection Act on behalf of the Secretary
  of Agriculture
• Broad authorities to prevent, detect, control and
  eradicate the outbreak of animal diseases and
  foreign animal diseases (FAD) in the United
  States
• APHIS is the designated lead agency for animal
  health concerns

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APHIS Safeguards Agriculture

• Exclusion
• Trade restrictions
• Anti-smuggling programs
• International efforts
• Diagnostic capacity building and capability
• Surveillance
• Targeted surveillance
• Active and passive surveillance
• Diagnostic capacity and capability

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APHIS Safeguards Agriculture (cont.)

• Preparedness and Communication
• Cooperative planning with States, Federal,
  Industry, and Tribal partners
• Outreach and education
• Communication plans and risk management
• Exercises, assessments, and evaluations
• Response
• Integrated and synchronized
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) and
  National Response Framework (NRF) compliant
• Science based veterinary countermeasures

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APHIS VS Response to a Disease Outbreak

• National Animal Health Emergency Management
  System Guidelines
• Controlled eradication
• Cleaning and disinfection
• Availability of first responders
• Adequate resources to support response
• Vaccines (to be used only upon approval by the
  USDA and the applicable State Veterinarian)

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APHIS VS History of Disease Response

• 1983 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• 1998 Screwworm (in a pet dog)
• 1999 West Nile Virus
• 2000-01 Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD)
• 2001 Foot-and-Mouth Disease (United Kingdom)
• 2002 Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
• 2002 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• 2002-03 Exotic Newcastle Disease
• 2003 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
• 2004 HPAI, RHD, SVC
• 2005 BSE, RHD, SVC
• 2006 BSE, Contagious Equine Metritis, Viral
  Hemorrhagic Septicemia
• 2007 Screwworm (2 separate incidents in pet
  dogs), Notifiable Avian influenza (NAI)
• 2008 NAI, Malignant Catarrhal Fever

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National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS)

• NVS is the nations repository of critical
  veterinary supplies, equipment, and services
• NVS has the ability to deploy massive quantities
  of veterinary supplies within 24 hours against
  the 17 most dangerous animal disease threats
• Current goals include working with States prior
  to an emergency on how to request, receive,
  process, and accept delivery of NVS supplies

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NVS Current Capabilities

• Personal protective equipment
• Antivirals
• AI vaccines and field test kits
• Portable satellite voice and data communication
  equipment
• Disinfectants
• Commercial partnerships to provide States with
  depopulation, disposal, and decontamination (3D)
  support

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NVS Future Capabilities

• Supply chain management system to coordinate
  inventory and deployments
• Vaccines and field test kits for additional
  disease agents
• Animal handling and depopulation equipment for
  all threats
• Coastal logistics centers to provide greater
  proximity to outbreaks
• Fully-trained 3D commercial partners
• Emergencies 24/7 call 800-940-6524
• Questions nvs_at_aphis.usda.gov

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Veterinarians and Food Defense

• Veterinarians are often the first to see and
  report suspect situations to State Veterinarians
  or APHIS
• Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians initiate an
  investigation within 8 hours of a report of a
  suspected foreign animal disease

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NAHERC Reserve Corps of Personnel

• In 2001 APHIS started the National Animal Health
  Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)
• NAHERC is a reserve corps of veterinarians and
  animal health technicians who can assist Federal
  or State responders during an animal health
  emergency
• NAHERC volunteers provide a valuable interface
  between the Federal government and farmers
• Prospective members fill out an application on
  the USAJOBS web site

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International Animal Health Emergency Reserve
(IAHER)

• In May 2004, six countries (Australia, Canada,
  Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United
  States) established the IAHER
• IAHER provides veterinary support and assistance
  to member countries in response to an animal
  disease outbreak emergency

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National Approach to Incident Coordination

• The Homeland Security Act of 2002 and Homeland
  Security Presidential Directive-5 require a
  comprehensive national approach to domestic
  incident management
• This is accomplished through the development of
  the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  and National Response Framework (NRF)

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National Response Framework Emergency Support
Functions
ESF 8 Public Health/ Medical Services
ESF 1 Transportation
ESF 9 Urban Search/Rescue
ESF 2 Communications
ESF 10 Oil/Hazardous Materials Response
ESF 3 Public Works/Engineering
ESF 4 Firefighting
ESF 11 Agriculture/Natural Resources (USDA/DOI)
ESF 5 Emergency Management
ESF 12 Energy
ESF 6 Mass Care/Emergency Assistance/Housing/ H
uman Services
ESF 13 Public Safety/Security
ESF 14 Long-Term Community Recovery
ESF 7 Logistics Management/Resource Support
ESF 15 External Affairs
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Goals of Food Defense

• To identify threats
• To prevent an attack
• To respond rapidly and efficiently
• To recover quickly and help restore confidence in
  the food supply

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Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative

• Coordination between USDA agencies (Food Safety
  and Inspection Service FSIS APHIS
  Agricultural Research Service and the
  Cooperative State Research, Education, and
  Extension Service)
• USDA 2009 budget proposes 264 million for the
  initiative (an 81 million increase)
• 14 million to enhance research related to
  protecting the U.S. food supply
• 20 million for research to improve animal
  vaccines and diagnostic tests
• 47 million to enhance surveillance, strengthen
  response capabilities, and improve animal
  identification efforts

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VS Food Defense Action Items

• Ensure FSIS, APHIS, State, and industry disaster
  preparedness plans are consistent
• Provide guidelines and protocols for isolating
  animals prior to FAD investigations
• Provide plans and protocols for humane handling,
  sampling, and slaughter or depopulation

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VS Food Defense Action Items (cont.)

• Partner, research, develop and adopt the best
  veterinary science countermeasures and
  diagnostics for highly contagious FAD (and other
  animal diseases)
• Incorporate science based guidelines for
  continuity of business, mitigation, and recovery
  into USDA policies, procedures, and national
  response plans

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Suspected FAD Multi-Agency Response

• In June 2007, animals inspected at a Minnesota
  slaughter plant showed signs of an FAD
• FSIS, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and
  APHIS worked together to determine if a public
  health threat existed
• FSIS role animal inspection prior to slaughter
• APHIS role determine whether animal movement
  could continue determine if products from
  affected animals could enter the food supply
• Canada role provide information for the
  epidemiologic investigation

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Melamine Multi-Agency Response

• In April 2007, FDA determined a shipment of rice
  protein imported from China was contaminated with
  melamine
• The rice protein was used in the production of
  pet food and animal feed
• FSIS, FDA, and APHIS worked together to determine
  if a public health threat existed
• FSIS role animal inspection prior to slaughter
  and assisting FDA in tracing adulterated feed
• FDA role monitoring safety of animal feed
• APHIS role helped States locate, quarantine and
  dispose of animals and products if necessary

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Polonium Multi-Agency Response

• In May 2007, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  sampled ground water in Nevada for polonium 210
• Test results showed one aquifer, which supplied
  drinking water to livestock at two dairy
  operations, contained polonium 210
• FSIS, FDA, and APHIS worked together to determine
  if a public health threat existed
• FSIS role ensure the safety and wholesomeness of
  meat and meat products
• FDA role ensure the safety of milk and milk
  products
• APHIS role helped States locate, quarantine,
  sample and dispose of animals and products if
  necessary

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Food Defense A Multi-Agency Task

• USDA APHIS
• APHIS is provides leadership in ensuring the
  health and care of animals and plants.
• VS prevents, controls and/or eliminates animal
  diseases and monitors and promotes animal health
  and productivity
• Plant Protection and Quarantine division prevents
  the entry, establishment, and spread of plant
  pests and diseases

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Food Defense A Multi-Agency Task

• USDA FSIS
• Regulates meat, poultry, and egg processors
• Inspects food animals for diseases before and
  after slaughter
• Responds to meat, poultry, and egg safety (human)
  emergencies

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Food Defense A Multi-Agency Task

• DHS
• (Border Inspection)
• Detects and prevents the illegal entry of
  persons, animals, and food items into the country
• Monitors commercial cargo, live animals, and
  persons entering the country

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Food Defense A Multi-Agency Task

• HHS FDA
• Oversees all domestic and imported food,
  including shell eggs (except meat and poultry)
• Inspects food production establishments and
  warehouses
• Monitors safety of animal feed
• HHS CDC
• (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Investigates food-borne disease outbreaks
• Maintains a nationwide system of food-borne
  disease surveillance
• Trains local and State food safety personnel

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Food Defense A Multi-Agency Task

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Oversees drinking water (except bottled)
• Regulates toxic substances and wastes to prevent
  adverse environmental impact
• DOI USGS
• Monitor wildlife diseases
• Conducts water resources programs
• Department of Defense
• Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
  (CBRN) activities

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Agricultural Intelligence Working Group

• Began in 2000
• Informal network of Federal agencies
• Participants are analysts responsible for
  analyzing threat information and coordinating/
  responding to Food and Agriculture incidents
• Facilitates information sharing

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INTERPOL
FDA
NCTC
NSA
DHS
USDA
DoD
AGINT
FSIS
DOE
ARS
CIA
FBI
NORTHCOM
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Foreign Animal Disease Threat (FADT) Subcommittee

• In July 2005, the National Science and Technology
  Council invited several Federal agencies to
  establish the FADT Subcommittee
• Foreign animal disease threats of high economic
  consequence (gt 10B)
• Diseases capable of temporally and geographically
  impacting existing mitigation systems

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FADT Subcommittee (cont.)

• Three working groups
• Foreign Animal Disease Modeling
• Countermeasure Development (vaccines and
  diagnostics)
• Decontamination and Disposal

• Interagency Cooperation
• Agriculture
• Homeland Security
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Interior
• Health and Human Services
• National Science Foundation
• Defense
• State
• Executive Office of the President

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Food Defense in the 21st Century

• Requires effective communication collaboration
• to identify threats
• to plan for and respond to incidents
• to recover quickly

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• Questions?