PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
October 22, 2009 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856

(TOPEKA, KANSAS)  Today, three Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) employees are participating with officials from other Midwestern states in an exercise that simulates an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

NDA staff members are participating in the bi-state exercise with officials from nine other states.  The exercise is based in Kansas and Oklahoma.  It is designed to test interstate coordination and the logistics of implementing quarantine measures ordered by state animal health officials, during an animal health emergency situation.

Participating in the exercise are Dr. Dennis Hughes (State Veterinarian), Dr. Janice Mogan (Ag Homeland Security Veterinarian), and Tom Jensen (Emergency Response Coordinator).

The exercise is being conducted by the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture, of which NDA is a member. 

More information on the exercise can be found in the attached press release.