010431 Pork Producers Cancel Annual ExpoApril 15, 2001Des Moines, IA - Fearing an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States, a national pork producers group announced it has canceled its annual convention. The event had been expected to attract 40,000 pork producers and consumers, along with about 2,000 visitors from 60 nations outside the United States. Hundreds of hogs were to be sold to farmers across the country. “There is at least some possibility that an international visitor could bring the virus to the United States,” said Tom Baas, an Iowa State University animal science professor. “Right now North America is free of foot-and-mouth and we want to keep it that way.” The National Pork Producers Council convention had been scheduled for June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. “I think the heightened awareness of foot-and-mouth made it obvious that we needed to do something,” said Barb Determan, a council board member and hog farmer. Foot-and-mouth disease is harmless to humans but has devastated livestock in Europe. Herds in areas where it appears - including Britain - have been immediately eradicated. The virus can be carried on clothing and footwear as well as in meat products. The United States has banned imports of livestock and raw meat from the European Union. The United States has been free of the disease since 1929.
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com |
