If avian influenza comes to North America one likely route is through importation or smuggling of infected birds. To protect ourselves, we need good border controls and to do that the US Department of Agriculture needs to know where in the world outbreaks are occurring. A USDA Inspector General's Report says that isn't happening:
The USDA should have tested new or revised procedures that relate to pandemic planning, but the agency has not tested 14 of 26 tasks for which it was designated the lead agency, the report states. Though the federal plan does not require the USDA to test the procedures, APHIS does stipulate that procedures should be tested.To cite an example of problems that can occur when tasks are not properly tested, the report says a USDA Web site designed to provide early warnings of outbreaks in other countries was not updated more than 48 hours after a February 2007 H5N1 outbreak in England. "A delay could allow [customs] agents to let infected birds into the United States to contaminate domestic flocks and the food supply," the authors wrote. (CIDRAP News)
Not that you would know there were problems if you asked the USDA, because they lied about their progress:
The report faults the agency for inaccurately reporting its progress on two initiatives to the president's Homeland Security Council (HSC), the White House group that authored the federal government's two pandemic planning strategy and implementation plan documents. One initiative involved the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services' (APHIS's) ability to identify high-risk bird importers and withdraw their federal live-bird import permits. In the other instance, the inspector general found that APHIS erroneously reported the status of its personal protective equipment stockpiles.
"APHIS reported that it stockpiled enough personal protective equipment in strategic locations to protect workers. However the equipment has been stockpiled at one location," the report states.
Oh, I stand corrected. They didn't lie. They "inaccurately" or "erroneously" reported. I'm sure making themselves look better than they were was entirely unintentional.
Don't worry, though. USDA's response says they are engaged in an "ongoing continual improvement process." Every day in every way they are getting better and better.
Just like the virus.
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48 hours is good, isn't it? I've gone to CDC and WHO sites and found that events aren't posted for much longer than 2 days. Am surprised it hasn't happened already. BTW, APHIS is being run by HSC now, yes? Somewhere I read that APHIS folks are worried b/c their organization is failing in duties since the "takeover" (my inference).
Given the speed of air travel, 48 hours is more than adequite to infect the U.S.. While it may be fine if there is no evidence of AI in a country we regularly trade with but, in a nation where there are infected birds it could spell disaster. A yellow flag should be hoisted within a couple of hours on all poultry imports if AI is suspected. The birds should be held up until testing is completed. A red one raised if the tests are conclusive and all birds either tested or destroyed. One shipment could spell disaster.
Shannon, just so you know, I was speaking tongue in cheek. I agree that 48 hours is a very long time. I'll bet it's the paperwork and permissions that slow things down to a crawl. I wonder what it takes just to post a new case on the WHO website? How many steps does THAT go through?
Phyto, ;)
I don't know how it is done but, if it was up to me I would have a designated job assignment within our foreign service. Someone who was even there on a Sunday. LOL The red tape no doubt is the sticking point. Considering the ramifications it needs to be addressed yesterday.