What is the standard of care for minimizing the risk of disease transmission through building HVAC systems? Prior to 2020 this was an esoteric question largely reserved for academics, but it has since…
Biosecurity can be defined as the measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases to humans, animals, and plants. A breach in biosecurity measures can affect numerous animal, agricultural, and research industries. As highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of disease can cost billions of dollars in lost revenue, hospitalization, and productivity to mitigate.
This article explores the standards of care for biosecurity, and the factors that would be assessed in the forensic investigation of a disease outbreak.
Diseases that affect agricultural production can devastate food supplies and strain supply chains. Examples of exposure to these hazards, the risk of exposure that create a dangerous condition, and the means and methods to mitigate dangerous conditions are demonstrated below:
Lapses in biosecurity in agricultural and research settings can expose workers to disease and contaminate the physical location:
Disease outbreaks in kennels, veterinary clinics, animal shelters, zoos, and show facilities cost thousands of dollars in direct and indirect costs:
A forensic investigation of a biosecurity breach would involve the assessment of the following areas:
Facility Protocols and Procedures
Organizations should provide clear guidance to staff to empower them to handle suspected animal illnesses, facility emergencies, etc. Likewise, facility standard operating procedures should have contingency plans that are consistent with industry standards.
Administrators should also be able to demonstrate that materials entering the facilities, such as food, bedding, water, and enrichment materials are clean, wholesome, and uncontaminated.
Employee Training, Observation & Evaluation
To maintain biosecurity standards, animal facilities should have a detailed plan for both didactic (book- or lecture-based) and hands-on training of personnel. The establishment of operational benchmarks or metrics and the routine observation of personnel conducting their duties ensure the proper implementation of the industry standards of care and adherence to standard operation procedures. These observations can be complied as written employee training and evaluation plans.
Sanitation Protocols for Holding Areas, Cage Wash Systems & Other Equipment
To prevent the spread of hazardous pathogens, the facility must possess sufficient equipment to provide feed, water, housing, and enrichment to the maximum capacity of animals. Ample time, facilities, and labor hours must be devoted to sanitizing equipment and housing between uses by different animals or by animals moved from one area to another.
Cleaning protocols should be based upon industry best practices, pertinent regulatory guidelines, and manufacturer recommendations. All animal facilities should have a robust rodent and insect mitigation program to prevent food contamination and vector-borne disease spread.
Assessment of Entry Requirements for Animals & Personnel
Quarantine requirements of incoming animals should be thoughtfully considered. For boarding facilities and show venues, a balance should be struck between disease prevention and inconvenience to clientele and exhibitors. Veterinary clinics and animal shelters should have protocols in place to segregate animals with unknown vaccination and health status from the rest of their inpatient and outpatient visitors.
Human visitors to food production and research animal facilities should be appropriately screened through occupational health services. New employees, facility visitors, and volunteers should receive safety instruction prior to entering animal facilities.
Adherence to Appropriate Industry Regulations
Research facilities should have proper oversight from an engaged Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Provisions of the Animal Welfare Act for procurement, transportation, and housing must be met in these settings.
Society generally expects that animals used for exhibition, sport, personal enjoyment, food production, and research are treated humanely. Ample research exists to indicate that minimizing stress in animal facilities improves the health of animals, which in turn improves biosecurity efforts.
Animal facilities should be able to demonstrate the steps they take to improve animal welfare in their facility and how they actively eliminate any animal abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
The investigation of biosecurity failures and animal disease outbreaks are complicated matters. Robson Forensic is well-positioned to tackle these cases. Beyond the firm’s extensive veterinary expertise, we also have experts in additional fields who can provide invaluable insight (transportation; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) engineering; and human factors) into complex biosecurity challenges.
For more information, submit an inquiry or call us at 800.813.6736.
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