WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 10/22/2010WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTE
October 22, 2010
Wichita Falls - Wichita County Public Health District
1700 Third Street - Parker Conference Room
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bryan Press, Vice Chair
Robin Moreno, M.T., Secretary
David Carlston, Ph.D.
Clay Clark, D.V.M.
Lauren Jansen, R.N.C.
MEMBERS ABSENCE EXCUSED:
Richard Sutton, M.D., Chair
Tracy Hill, D.D.S.
Lou Franklin, R.N., B.S.N.
Amy Cone, M. P.A.
Not Present
Kevin Hugman
Not Present
Ray Gonzalez
Wichita Falls, Texas
Board Members
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Director of Health
Assistant Director of Health
Health Authority
Assistant City Manager
Council Liaison
County Commissioner
I. CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
Vice Chair Bryan Press called the Board of Health meeting to order at 12:15 pm after a quorum of members
was attained.
II. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 2010 MEETING MINUTES AND ABSENCES
Bryan Press called for the review and approval of minutes from the last meeting held on August 27, 2010.
Dr. Carlston introduced a motion to approve the minutes as presented and Dr. Clark seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
At this time it was noted the excused absence of Dr. Sutton and Dr. Hill.
III. CITY OF WICHITA FALLS ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER UPDATE
Ms. Franklin presented drawings along with the textures and color scheme of the Animal Services Center
scheduled to open January 2011. The position for Animal Services Administrator was posted and
interviews are being conducted with a projected hire date within the next couple of weeks.
IV. THE RISK TO AMERICAN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION BY MISSION TRAVEL TO
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Dr. Clark made the introduction of guest speaker Dr. Leslie Cole- Jackson of the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA), Area Emergency Coordinator (AEC) of Oklahoma, Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), and Veterinary Services (VS).
Dr. C; le- Jackson discussed the potential of new bacteria and viruses being introduced into the United
States that could devastate agriculture and the major economic impacts associated with such disease.
Worldwide, the United States is seen as a producer of high quality food, including protein and cereal grains.
These with livestock, poultry, eggs, and dairy production are significant drivers of the local and national
economy. A foreign animal disease outbreak could adversely impact production and supply which would
have a large impact on our national and international markets. The markets cash value multiples as it goes
through production to the finished product into the larger economy. The export market is dynamic in that if
the United States had an outbreak it could cause a long term impact. Another practice that incorporates
vulnerabilities is the high density feed lot confinement rearing with the centralized feed and distribution
source that yields potential for contamination. Exotic Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal viral
disease that can affect poultry. Poultry is produced all over the world and a major protein source for much
of the world. The disease would directly threaten the availability and impact lives of people around the
world.
Agriculture and resource (oil and gas) extraction are economic drivers of Texas and Oklahoma, and the
stability of these industries impact the stability of our society. Many agricultural production facilities have
strict protocols to receive foreign visitors. Some of the precautions are not to wear clothes or footwear
previously worn on animal production sites, farms, and rural areas that have open trash pits that are heavily
contaminated given the potential to track back into the United States. Cameras, equipment, and food are
other items that can not be properly disinfected. A camera can be put in a clear zip lock plastic bag to
protect from contamination then wiped off with a hand wipe. The American Association of Swine
Veterinarians (AASV) protocol is to have no contact with livestock for at least 48 hours prior to the return
home from visits to production facilities and at least 5 days from a foot and mouth disease endemic country.
If at all possible, livestock along with cats and dogs should be avoided. Humans are rarely affected; they
are not biological vectors but can be mechanical vectors, which is a carrier of a viable infectious virus that
with one viral particle being an infected dose for an animal. There is concern about importation of animals
that appear healthy but carry a virus. Other things to be concerned about in developing countries without
functional public health and food safety systems is non - pasteurized dairy and meats, since historically in the
United States non - pasteurized dairy products was how many diseases spread. A lot of disease existed in
the United States that were expunged from the country not by accident but through great expense and vast
ratification efforts of the United States. Certain processing steps are required before a product can be
imported to the United States.
Mission trips offer an excellent service to developing countries and destinations of disaster, but the
volunteers are often unaware of the risky behavior they engage in for their health and animal agriculture.
The USDA released a list of guidelines for individuals who visit developing third world countries to help them
return safely and protect our environment. Citizens need to be aware of their own safety as well as the risk
to animal agriculture.
The Oklahoma Area Emergency Coordinator helps prepare and educate stakeholders, including
governmental, nongovernmental or private industry to mitigate potential issues.
V. NEXT MEETING DATE
December 17, 2010
VI. ADJOURN
Bryan Press requested a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Dr. Clark and seconded by
Dr. Carlston. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Richard Sutton, M.D., Chair, Bryan Press, Vice Chair, or Robin Moreno, M.T., Secretary
Public Health Board
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