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The Rural Voice, 1983-10, Page 25FARM NEWS Ag. Canada Team ready for disease outbreaks Hours after the recent outbreak in Saskatchewan of anaplasmosis, an infectious blood disease that attacks cattle and sheep, federal veterinarians were on the scene attempting to bring the situation under control. However, their rapid and efficient response was not as easy as it appeared. Instead, it was the result of years of highly -efficient training and organization. As part of Agriculture Canada's Food Production and Inspection Branch, emergency response teams are on the alert in every region should a major disease outbreak occur. In the anaplasmosis outbreak, a regional alert team was in the area within hours after it was detected. The team then set out to trace all cattle sales from the infected area for possible signs of the disease or losses that it may have caused. Blood samples were taken and sent to the department's Animal Diseases Research Institute in Ottawa to be analysed. Within days, the extent of the problem was becoming known and the correct eradication procedures were underway. "We knew how to respond in Saskatchewan partly because of a simulated `paper' practice we con- ducted earlier in Atlantic Canada," explains Dale Duplessis, regional veterinary director for Atlantic Canada. "A realistic disease control centre was set up and the professional and technical staff was put through every possible problem that could arise," Dr. Duplessis says. Although the exercise was directed by Dr. Duplessis and Agriculture Canada, there were many others involved from both the provincial and federal governments. "Members of the RCMP, the Canadian army, Emergency Planning Canada, the New Brunswick Depart- ments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources, along with other groups all played important roles in the exercise," Dr. Duplessis says. Twenty-four federal officials dir- ected, on paper, more than 400 people involved in enforcing quaran- tines, appraising infected cattle, des- troying and disposing of carcasses, cleaning and disinfecting farms and manning roadblocks to prevent un- wary travelers from spreading the disease. "Every possible angle was covered during the exercise with an emphasis on proper communications and good public relations," Dr. Duplessis says. "This simulated exercise showed us that stopping potentially serious dis- eases from getting a foothold in Canada requires the co-operation, not only of the federal and provincial governments, but of every farmer too. ❑ VISTA VILLA FARMS LTD RR #4 WALTON, ONT. 16 years and 20,000 hogs worth of experience taught us a lot about what commercial people need. We don't pretend to have all the answers but we sure are willing to share our experience. Come see what we are doing and we'll talk. Hamps, Yorks, Durocs & Crossbreds Available R.O.P. TESTED. HERD HEALTH APPROVED VISTA VILLA FARMS LTD. ROBERT J. ROBINSON R.R. 4, WALTON, ONT. NOK 1Z0 TEL. 519-345-2317 THE RURAL VOICE, OCTOBER 1983 PG. 23