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Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Foot-and-Mouth Poses Threat to N.C. Hog Industry
By Rachel Cottone
Staff Writer
The recent outbreak of foot-and
mouth disease in Europe, especially
England, is \major concern for the agri
cultural officials in North Carolina.
In England, large numbers of live
stock have been slaughtered and then
burned to control the epidemic -but the
disease is still running rampant and has
spread to mainland Europe and several
other parts of the world.
Jerry Hostetter, vice president of cor
porate communications for North
i' Attention
r\ Graduates
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Carolina-based Smithfield Foods, the
country’s largest pork producer, said the
disease’s contagious nature poses a
threat to the state’s livestock. “(Foot-and
mouth disease) is critically important
because if it affected our livestock, it
would be economically devastating.”
State Veterinarian David Marshall
said if foot-and-mouth disease struck
North Carolina, the results would hit the
state hard. “If it does (come to the
United States), damage would be in the
billions of dollars,” he said.
Foot-and-mouth is a contagious viral
disease that affects cloven-hoofed ani
mals such as catde, swine and sheep.
The disease spreads easily from ani
mal to animal on crowded farms and is
wind-borne, traveling long distances to
carry the disease to distant farms.
Once exposed to the virus, livestock
lose weight and dairy animals suffer
reduced milk production. There is no
effective treatment for the virus, which
can result in death.
Although humans cannot become
sick with foot-and-mouth disease, they
can carry the virus.
Hostetter said Smithfield Foods is tak
ing precautions to safeguard against the
News
disease.
Academic groups and visitors previ
ously enjoyed relatively free access to
the hog farms. Hostetter said visitor
access has now been restricted.
He added that employees who travel
abroad to inspect foreign products are
quarantined for a month at desk jobs and
are not allowed contact with the hogs.
Marshall said North Carolina is pre
pared if an outbreak were to occur. Buffer
zones, quarantine and vaccinations are
current prevention methods in place.
“We think the USDA has a well
thought emergency plan,” he said. “We
could limit the outbreak to the point
where it can be controlled.”
And this cloud does have a silver lin
ing for hog producers. Because the
United States has banned the importa
tion of foreign meat, only domestic
products will be put on the market.
Hostetter said the restriction on for
eign sales will be an economic boost for
the domestic meat market and
Smithfield Foods. “It’s a positive influ
ence because it would be less supply and
increase the sale of pork in this country.”
The State & National Editor can be
reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.
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Campus Calendar
Today
noon - The Sonja H. Stone Black
Cultural Center presents, “Around the
Circle: First-Aid Safety and
Screening Fair.”
Join EMT Delois Mcßae as she dis
cusses first-aid. Have your blood pres
sure checked and get tested for diabetes.
3 p.m. - The initial meeting of the
LSAT Preparation Group will take
place in 104 Phillips Annex. Call 962-
3782 for further information/registra
tion. The course fee is SIOO.
3:30 p.m. -Wondering what
English course to take next semester?
Come get advice from those who
know. The Association of English
Majors presents peer advising in the
Gaskin library, Greenlaw Hall.
4:30 p.m. - The International
Festival planning committee will meet
in Union 220. All students are invited to
help organize this year’s “Dance of the
World” Festival.
4:30 p.m. - Scott Harshbarger, pres
ident of Common Cause, will head a
panel discussion on campus finance
reform in the Freedom Forum
Conference Room of Carroll Hall.
The town hall-style meeting will
bring together a diverse panel of politi
cians, professors and citizens.
6 p.m. -The General Alumni
Association Student Membership
ulljp lailti (Ear Mrrl
Program will sponsor a “Tax Seminar
for Students” in the Royall Room of
the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.
Learn how to file your federal and
state income tax returns as a student.
6 p.m. - The Wesley Foundation
will have dinner, followed by a
“Religion and Science” program.
7 p.m. - “Carolina Week” - real
news by real students - features Nicole
Brusik taking a look at how your group
or team can unwind and build bonds at
the very same time. The show will air on
Chapel Hill cable Channel 4 or on
campus on Channel 22. Catch it at the
same time on the same channel
Thursday and Friday. (
7 p.m. -Come to dinner at
Franklin Street Pizza & Pasta with a
World War II pilot from Chapel
Hill. Hear the story from a man who
experienced it
11 p.m. -As part of Children’s
Rights Week, Students for Educational
Equality and Advocates for Children
and Teens will sponsor a benefit con
cert at Carolina Coffee Shop, featuring
the band Flux. All proceeds will bene
fit groups that work to fight child abuse.
aljr Saily Sar Urcl
Wednesday, March 21,2001
Volume 109, Issue 14
PO. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Matt Dees, Editor, 962-4086
Advertising & Business, 962-1163
News, Features, Sports. 962-0245