How Ironic It's The South Korea Cattle That Are Diseased
Ever put your foot in your mouth, Boy I have. I’m Susan Allen stay tuned on Open Range to learn why Oregon want to make sure you won’t. Ag officials in Oregon are working to educate international travelers about a terrible livestock disease currenlty found in South Korea, one of Oregon’s leading trade partners, Foot and Mouth. No it’s not asking when the baby’s due to a woman whose not pregnant, it’s worse, Foot and Mouth is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cattle and swine and sometimes even sheep, goats and deer. It causes severe fever and blisters and while not a food safety issue, it can impact meat and milk production. People can’t get it but they spread it. Oregon’s State Veterinarian is working to educate travelers about the virus that has been irradiated in the states since 1929. Those traveling to South Korea or Vietnam need to stay clear of livestock operations and upon return, observe biosecurity measures that include washing clothes worn overseas and avoiding Oregon farms for up to 10 days. Kind of ironic South Korea now has Foot and Mouth remember they’re the ones that snubbed US beef even and made our meat a political issue that caused American producers all kinds of grief even limiting exports to cows that are younger than thirty months. Wonder if those tens of thousands of folks that had the audicity to protest the safety of our beef at a candlelight vigil backing 2008 are holding one for their diseased cattle now. Maybe we should!