WHAT IS ILLINOIS DOING?
Illinois government agencies are actively engaged in meetings and activities at the local, state, and national level with state and national producer organizations and others involved in livestock production, transport, processing, etc. In addition, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and relevant agencies and offices are informed of and making input into the federal program for FMD eradication. The Illinois Department of Agriculture has had an Illinois Emergency Animal Disease Response Plan in place for a number of years. This state-level plan would be activated immediately should an outbreak occur or threaten Illinois. The Illinois Emergency Management Act (IEMA) gives statutory authority to the Governor and to the Director of Agriculture to act in event of an FMD outbreak. Illinois producer associations are working to inform their members as quickly as possible about the symptoms and implications of the disease for individual producers, for Illinois, and for the nation. As noted
