Emergency response and disease control--a discussion of alternative objectives for zoning in the age of agricultural bioterrorism.
Emergency planning activities in most developed countries have increased as a result of such events as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the emergence of the highly pathogenic Asian strain of avian influenza, H5N1. The threat of terrorist activities, combined with advances in science and technology, have resulted in an expanded spectrum of threat for humans, animals, plants and the environment. It is possible that an attack or disease incursion could be so catastrophic and devastating that the resources to combat it would be rapidly overwhelmed. In these cases, it may be necessary to develop an alternative strategy. The author discusses the concept of protective zoning. Protective zoning is a strategy to salvage or protect a smaller segment of an agriculture sector or geographic area when resources are insufficient to protect the entire sector or area. This change in orientation will be extremely controversial and the exact criteria to determine when the situation warrants a change in objective, as well as the precise activities to be performed, must be determined by all stakeholders well in advance. Changes to other activities in current emergency plans may be required. The impact on the recovery phase plans will be significant.
Munroe
Fonda A
FA
National Manager, Animal Health Risk Analysis, Science Branch, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory Fallowfield, 3851 Fallowfield Road, PO Box 1300, Station H, Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8P9, Canada. fmunroe@inspection.gc.ca