Agricultural Fairs, Agritourism Farms to Receive
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Information

June 25, 2001

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752, Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us

The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture has mailed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) prevention guidelines and posters to agricultural fairs and agritourism farms across the state - two venues where people and animals may come in contact.

"Foot-and-mouth disease is not a danger to humans," stresses Jonathan L. Healy, state Commissioner of Food and Agriculture. "But people could possibly expose animals to this serious disease. That's why we're asking folks who have traveled abroad recently to not have contact with livestock at fairs and farms they visit."

Some 60 fairs and more than 200 farms were sent the materials including copies of a poster that asks visitors to refrain from entering livestock areas if they have traveled to an FMD affected country in the past seven days. Fairs and farms are asked to put the posters in a visible place near livestock areas.

Other materials in the mailing include a brochure to help livestock handlers identify FMD should it appear here, and general health guidelines for operators of petting farms, exhibits and fairs where people and animals have contact.

Fair operators and farmers who did not receive the mailing, may call 617-626-1742 to request the packet. FMD information for consumers and travelers is available by calling the US Department of Agriculture toll-free at 1-866-SAFGUARD. Or visit www.massdfa.org.

FMD is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. FMD causes severe losses in the production of meat and milk. It spreads widely and rapidly and has grave economic as well as physical consequences. The disease does not affect food safety or humans.