Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is not considered a risk to human health. However, humans can carry the virus on their clothing, shoes, body (particularly through the throat and nasal passages) and on personal items. The disease is extremely contagious and spreads easily among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer. Precautionary steps are being taken to minimize the risk of outbreak of FMD to our livestock in the various locations within the University. Currently there is no FMD in our livestock populations. Yet, there is a risk of FMD with the constant movement of people and livestock nationally and internationally. Consequently, the University will introduce measures to reduce the risk related to the transmission of FMD within its animal facilities. Each University employee has the responsibility to undertake steps to minimize the risk to our animals. This collective effort will assist us in safeguarding our animal facilities. The following procedure will assist employees, visitors and managers who work in, or visit, University animal facilities that may be impacted by the potential of FMD. These precautions are necessary during this time of alert and will remain in place until the period of concern passes. Effective immediately, and until further notice, all University personnel will adhere to the following procedure:

1. Any employee (SPA, EPA, temporary, student) who has traveled outside the U. S. within a 14 day period must not enter any animal housing areas or work with cattle, swine, goats or sheep located at ANY of the University's facilities. If an employee does undertake travel to at-risk countries, the 14 day quarantine will apply. During this period the employee will not be allowed access to any animal areas. The employee who works with animals has four options during the quarantine period:

• take annual leave
• take accrued comp time
• take leave without pay
• or be reassigned to another non-animal related work unit for temporary duty assignment at the same rate of pay

The immediate supervisor will work with any traveling employee who must choose among these four options. Should the employee desire an alternate work location, the supervisor, through his/her department head should reassign within the department if possible, or contact another department head to determine another work location for the duration of the quarantine. The employee should be aware that work schedules may be modified to accommodate the temporary work location.

1. Faculty, staff and students are discouraged from visiting at-risk countries. Any employee considering travel to any at-risk country should discuss the issue with their immediate supervisor and review options listed in number one above.
2. Every visitor to the University who desires to enter areas housing livestock owned by the University must receive approval from either the station superintendent or the unit/herd manager at each livestock unit. The visitor must fill out and sign a short questionnaire (developed by the facility or department) which is signed by the Facility representative. It is the Facility's responsibility to ensure the completion of this step. Visitors would include those personnel having business to conduct at these locations, such as facilities personnel, researchers, commodity personnel, as well as applicants for positions at the various impacted locations.
3. Foreign visitors will be allowed to tour livestock facilities only if they have not been in a country that has FMD during the preceding 14 day time period. Requests for visits by citizens of, or recent visitors to, at-risk countries are discouraged. As FMD spreads and is contained, the list of "at-risk countries" may change over time. Therefore, the station superintendent or the unit/herd manager will review any travel to a country outside of the United States to determine the need for FMD precautions.
4. Employees are to report to their immediate supervisor if any friends or relatives have traveled to any at-risk countries and make certain that proper preventative measures are carried out to avoid cross-contamination. The station superintendent or the unit/herd manager at each livestock unit will have the responsibility of ensuring/advising of the appropriate preventative measures as issued by State, local, and/or University officials.

    Posting of Warning Signs Posted Signage stating the restricted access will be posted at each public entrance to areas housing cloven hoofed animals. The signs will state: IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED OUTSIDE THE U.S IN THE PAST 14 DAYS , PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THIS FACILITY WITHOUT FIRST REPORTING TO _______________________. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY BIOSAFETY OFFICER AT 515-6858.