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In 2009, the Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) received funds from USDA APHIS to develop a feasibility document and background materials for a plan to facilitate movement of milk from non-infected premises during a foot and mouth disease outbreak. This project was initially modeled after the Federal and State Transport Plan (FAST Eggs Plan) for movement of eggs and egg products from non-infected commercial table egg premises in a high pathogenicity avian influenza control area. The CFSPH and partners in the project are now calling the project the Secure Milk Supply Plan. It is a State/Federal/Industry partnership intended to ensure safe movement and processing of milk during an FMD outbreak. The CFSPH is researching published literature on the ability to detect FMD in bulk milk samples on farm, the ability of FMD virus to survive pasteurization, and state and federal response plans that address biosecurity implemented on dairy farms during a FMD outbreak, transportation in control areas, unloading and processing milk to ensure FMD is not transmitted, and processing options.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The CFSPH will work to provide science based information to assist incident commanders in making decisions regarding permissions for milk movement. Also in 2011, the CFSPH will work to populate the data portal with the data from one state. The data portal will be developed under separate cooperative agreement and will be built to integrate with TraceFirst, the Texas A&M Dashboard, and EMRs 2.0. The data portal will be demonstrated to APHIS, the SMS partners and other stakeholders for review and discussion.
<P>APPROACH: The CFSPH has worked closely with the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Davis who also have funding from APHIS related to the movement of milk in the event of an FMD outbreak. The Secure Milk Supply Plan is a comprehensive program that includes the efforts of these groups. Currently there are four topic-specific Working Groups: 1) Milk Matrix Working Group: Coordinators: Jim Roth, Pam Hullinger 2) Premises Biosecurity Working Group; Coordinator: Danelle Bickett-Weddle; 3) Truck Biosecurity Working Group; Coordinators: Danelle Bickett-Weddle, Tim Goldsmith; 4) Processing Plant Biosecurity Working Group; Coordinator: Pam Hullinger A white paper explaining the concepts and factors to be considered when making decisions regarding permitting milk movement during an FMD outbreak is under development. The paper is titled "Considerations for the Permitting of Raw Milk Movement during a FMD Outbreak Response," The concepts have been discussed by the Working Groups and a two-part decision matrix using the updated zones and premises classifications was created. Biosecurity protocols for premises, milk haulers and milk processing plants have been drafted. Information from normal dairy operations in Iowa and Texas was collected for the risk assessors. Dairies in California and New England were visited as well. Information related to animal movement, milk hauler protocols, number of farms on a tanker, manure handling, visitors, the ability to implement cleaning and disinfection at the entrance to the dairy are being evaluated to develop biosecurity performance standards. The Working Groups have reviewed the standards and they have been shared with the CEAH risk assessment team. The CFSPH created a document titled, "Phases and Types of an FMD Outbreak" and is sharing it with the SMS partners, APHIS, AVICs, and SAHOs asking for input. This document will help further develop the SMS plan.