USDA releases $43.4 million to help states combat animal, plant diseases

Biosecurity Issues

May 31, 2002 (CIDRAP News) – The release of $43.4 million in federal funds to help states detect and respond to animal and plant disease emergencies was announced yesterday by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.

The money is a share of $328 million in homeland security funds that Congress and President Bush approved earlier this year for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), USDA officials said in a news release.

"These grants are an important component of the administration's continued efforts to strengthen homeland security protection as it relates to food and agriculture," Veneman stated in the release.

USDA said the largest share of the money—$20.6 million—is for a network of ten diagnostic laboratories around the country to permit rapid diagnosis of animal diseases. The labs, funded in amounts ranging from $750,000 to $1.65 million, will be in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and Washington.

Another $14 million will be used "to strengthen state capabilities to respond to animal disease emergencies, primarily by helping every state to meet the national standards of emergency preparedness established by the National Animal Health Emergency Management System," the announcement said.

The rest of the money includes $4.3 million for state-level surveillance of animal diseases and $4.3 million to help states improve detection of plant pests and diseases.

The USDA announcement shows that the largest state share of the money is Florida's $2.23 million, which includes $1.65 million for one of the diagnostic labs. The smallest state allocation is Rhode Island's $81,145. Among states that will not get a laboratory, Nebraska gets the largest amount at $800,000.

USDA officials noted that several other security-related funding allocations were announced earlier this year. These included $177 million for physical and operational security improvements at key USDA facilities and $35 million to strengthen the quarantine program to stop agricultural pests and diseases at the borders.

The USDA's budget request for fiscal 2003 includes more than $150 million for additional security measures, officials said.

See also:

USDA press release
http://www.usda.gov/documents/NewsReleases/2002/05/0213.doc

This week's top reads

  1. Analysis of cow, cat H5N1 avian flu samples raises concerns about spread to other animals

    The cats started showing symptoms a day after clinical disease was noted in the cows, and about half of the cats died.

    Lisa Schnirring
    barn cat with milk pails

  2. Common diabetes drug lowers SARS-CoV-2 levels, clinical trial finds

    The mean SARS-CoV-2 viral load was reduced 3.6-fold with metformin.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    metformin

  3. WHO COVID vaccine advisers recommend switch to JN.1 strain

    The FDA's vaccine advisory group will discuss the make-up of 2024-25 vaccines at its meeting on May 16. 

    Lisa Schnirring
    vaccine prep

  4. USDA to test ground beef for traces of H5N1 avian flu virus as more poultry outbreaks reported

    Dairy cows make up about 7% of US beef production.

    Lisa Schnirring
    ground beef

  5. High-risk patients with COVID symptoms should use PCR rather than rapid tests, study suggests

    The sensitivity of RATs was 47%, compared with RT-PCR and 80% versus viral culture.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Stack of rapid COVID tests

  6. Studies yield more clues about H5N1 avian flu susceptibility, spread in dairy cows

    Researchers who examined cow mammary gland tissue found wide expression of avian and human influenza A receptors, which could explain high virus loads in milk of infected cows.

    Lisa Schnirring
    cow udders

  7. COVID booster linked to 25% lower odds of long COVID

    People who received the COVID-19 booster vaccine had 25% lower odds of having long COVID than their unvaccinated counterparts.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  8. USDA genome study sheds light on H5N1 avian flu spillover to cows, but data gaps remain

    In other developments, the USDA said ground beef samples were negative for the virus and Michigan and Colorado announced emergency measures.

    Lisa Schnirring
    dairy cows in barn

  9. Case report bolsters evidence for H5N1 avian flu spread from cow to Texas dairy worker

    The patient worked at a farm where the illness was suspected in cows and in a region where H5N1 was confirmed in other dairy herds.

    Lisa Schnirring
    milking parlor worker

  10. FDA finds no live H5N1 avian flu virus in sour cream or cottage cheese, will assess raw milk

    The FDA will test pooled raw milk to give the agency a better picture of the viral load before pasteurization.

    Lisa Schnirring
    cottage cheese