DATE:     4/19/01
CONTACT:  Dr. John Kelly, (864) 656-3015; jkelly@clemson.edu
          Dr. Jones Bryan, (803) 788-2260; jbryn@clemson.edu
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343; tlollis@clemson.edu
          
Clemson takes steps to protect
university animals from diseases

     CLEMSON -- To prevent the spread of contagious diseases to 
Clemson University livestock, the university has initiated a
biosecurity policy which will control how visits to its animal 
farms take place.
     "These measures will be permanent," said John Kelly, vice
president for Public Service and Agriculture at Clemson. "They will 
not disappear when the current problem with foot and mouth disease 
in Europe and South America is under control."
     Kelly said that the new policy will be a dynamic document, which
can be added to or changed as future conditions warrant.
     "Clemson University is at high risk because of the large number 
of international visitors and foreign travelers who visit our farm
facilities," he said. Although foot and mouth disease can be
transmitted by humans to livestock, the virus is not a significant
threat to humans.
     "These steps have been taken not only to prevent possible
infection of Clemson livestock by foreign animal diseases, but to
prevent spread of diseases that are endemic to this part of the 
world," said Jones Bryan, head of the university's Livestock-Poultry
Health Program. Farm animals that are most susceptible are cattle,
hogs, sheep, and goats. Wildlife that common farm areas, such as 
deer and elk, can also be affected.
     "Reducing risk is simply a good management practice," said 
Bryan.
     Kelly said that the biosecurity program will take some time to
fully implement. Until the program is fully in place, access to the
animal research farms will be limited to authorized faculty, staff,
students and approved visitors.
     All visitors will be required to check in at the main office of
each farm unit before entering any animal area. Visitors will be
required to affirm that neither they nor immediate family members 
have been out of the country for at least 14 days. Visitors must 
also provide assurance that they have not been in a sale barn,
slaughter house or had contact with sick animals for at least 24 
hours.
     Anyone entering the university's animal facilities must also 
wear protective clothing and follow procedures for cleaning and
disinfecting boots. Vehicles and equipment entering farm units will
also be disinfected.
     Security fencing and gates will be installed to prevent
unauthorized vehicles from entering facilities without approval. 
Signs will be posted to indicate restricted entry. Dogs and pets 
will not be permitted on any farm. Specific procedures will be posted
and rigidly enforced at each farm unit.
                              END