WESTERN BUREAU:
WASHINGTON STATE officials may ask the US Government to approve the disinfecting of all passengers arriving at Seattle's airport from countries where foot-and-mouth disease has been detected if the disease, mostly affecting British livestock, becomes widespread, according to a Reuters report.
Though the highly contagious disease, which affects pigs, goats and sheep, rarely affects humans, it can be inadvertently spread by people wearing contaminated shoes and on other items that have passed through infected areas. Here in Jamaica, there are expressions of grave concern not only with the possible importation of contaminated meat but also that tourists, local vacationers and British resident Jamaicans arriving daily from Britain may inadvertently spread the disease.
However, according to senior veterinary officer, Dr. Cedric Lazarus, the banning of live cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and meat and meat products from Britain are the major steps to take to prevent entry of the virus.
"We have done that," he told Farmer's Weekly. "Illegal imports of meats in the luggage of visitors is a major problem and we (the veterinary division) will work with the Customs Department to reduce that. And of course, there is the [matter of] public education and public awareness issue [to be considered]." Local consumers remain concerned about the disease and its likely effects.
Verna Campbell, a diner at a popular Montego Bay restaurant was overheard expressing her personal concerns about a questionable level of vigilance at the various ports of entry.
"We do not know all about everything that comes into the island as imports; there are no proper systems to check every container, in light of the frequency of containers that are found with goods other than what was declared," she said.
"We still have some of our fast food outlets and supermarkets that continue to import meats and meat products that cannot be guaranteed as being safe," she opined.
