Tighter Security Measures Taken

Some government agencies have asked their employees to take the magnetic signs off their vehicles so terrorists couldn’t steal them to perhaps gain better access to high-security areas. Some companies have ended the practice of conventional mail, opting instead to either e-mail or fax information.

There are numerous steps industries can take to better protect themselves from biological attacks. Some are foolproof, others eliminate only fools from the threat.

Some farmers have eliminated any or all guests, such as school groups and sales people, from visiting their livestock or farm facilities. The foot-and-mouth scare that almost leveled Britain’s farm industry last year has farmers and other possible targets of terrorists beefing up security.

While there’s only so much a farmer can watch with hundreds of acres to cover, there are steps that can be taken such as locking feed bins and milk holding tanks. And absolutely no unauthorized person should be allowed on a farm.

Greg Weidemann is acting Dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. He said the University had developed a policy about six months ago controlling entry and egress at certain UA facilities. The policy was installed due to the threat of foot-and-mouth spreading to the states.

“Primarily, we were concerned with people that may have just come from overseas,” Weidemann said.

“The spreading of foot-and-mouth has been a serious concern for state agencies for years. It would cause major disruptions. If it were found, there would be a major quarantine. No people, no animals, no vehicle would move. All the animals on the premises would be slaughtered. It would have a major economic impact.”

Anthrax is being introduced to the states for the first time in a terrorist manner, but the bacteria is hardly a newcomer. In fact, even Arkansas cattle have been affected with anthrax over the years, usually a single case here and there where a cow ingested some while grazing. The anthrax spores live in the ground, usually a foot or two deep.

Bernie Daniels, professor of animal science at the UA, said anthrax can also become a hazard when a dozer uproots it and livestock graze nearby.

“You have things to look for in the animals,” Daniels said. “If a cow runs a very high fever and the breathing is extremely difficult, call the veterinarian. They usually don’t live very long if they get anthrax. You probably would not be in danger of eating the beef that would have it because the cow usually dies in a very short period time. And it would be very sick, so it would be noticeable.”

Cities’ water supplies could also be targeted, although it would take a unique biological agent to make it through the clorination and advanced filtering systems in place today. But access points such as fire plugs could be targeted with the right equipment.

There will be more strict measures taken, measures that in some cases should have already come about.

A Fayetteville family was stranded in Germany for a few extra days following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks on the United States. Taking several hours to clear security as they finally readied to leave the Munich airport, a passenger began complaining that she had been searched five times already, prompting one of the Fayetteville travelers to tell another, “I hope she thanked them every time.”