Download Fever Tick Response in Texas

Fever Tick Response in Texas
T.R. Lansford, III, D.V.M.
Assistant Executive Director
Texas Animal Health Commission
What is the
Cattle Fever
Tick?
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)
microplus, and R.
annulatus, *introduced by
Spanish colonists
*One host tick
Vectors for bovine
babesiosis,-”Cattle Fever”
Bovine Babesiosis
• Caused by rapidly multiplying
tick-borne protozoa
– Babesia bovis and bigemina
• Red blood cell destruction
• Fatal to 90% of naïve cattle
• Fever tick is an integral part
of disease spread
Bovine Babesiosis
Hosts Targeted by Fever Ticks
Cattle are the
most efficient host,
but horses, deer,
and exotics also
sustain tick
populations.
TAHC’s Role
• Maintain tick regulations
• Trace-out work in livestock
markets & additional inspections
• Complement USDA control
efforts on Rio Grande
USDA Cattle Fever
Tick Eradication
Program
•
•
River, range inspection
Livestock movement
control
• Scratch, dip livestock
• Apprehend stray animals
• Systematic treatment of
animals on infested
premises
Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Permanent
Quarantine Area
Del Rio to Brownsville
Spans 8 counties
Approx. 600 miles long
5 yards to 5 miles wide
Fever Tick Issues
• Wildlife
– White-tail Deer
• Population density
– Nilgai Antelope
•
•
•
•
Host size
Population density
Large range
No current treatments
• Climate
Disease Response Goals
1) Detect, control, and contain disease as quickly
as possible
2) Eradicate disease using strategies that seek to
stabilize animal agriculture, the food supply, the
economy, and to protect public health and the
environment
3) Provide science- and risk-based approaches and
systems to facilitate continuity of business for
non-infected animals and non-contaminated
animal products.
Typical Viral
Disease
Response
Timeline
• Most foreign
animal diseases
• Viral diseases
• Highly
infectious
• Short
incubation
• Greater impact
• Fast moving
response
Fever Tick Response
• Quarantines
– Premises
•
•
•
•
Infested
Exposed
Adjacent
Check
– Livestock
• Inspection/Treatment
• Movement management
Cameron County Fever Tick Outbreak
• Incident Slow To Develop
• Extensive Pre-Planning
• 5 Day IAP Developed Prior To
Operational Start
• Incident Command System Initially
Developed to Expand For More
Areas/Counties
• Full IAP
o 202 – 214
o 204s Developed For Each Operational
Component
o Maps
o Special Directions
Initial Planning the ICS Structure for the Response
Critical Components
• Communication
– Scheduled and strictly adhered to
• Technology
– Mapping
– Data management
• Training
• Logistics
• Liaison
Long-term Operability
When Do You Say “When”
In Using An
Incident Command System?
Long-term Operability
• Considerations
• Management
• Management
• Management
• Management
• Management
Texas Animal
Health Commission
“Because Livestock and
Poultry Health Matters”
1-800-550-8242
Website: www.tahc.texas.gov