(from Dr. Dix Harrell, Area Epidemiologist with the USDA Veterinary Services office in Gainesville, as forwarded by Dr. Ed Richie, Extension Veterinarian)

Biological security measures are becoming standard in many agricultural sectors. These controls, meant to minimize the risk of disease introduction and spread, can vary greatly according to operation and type of site visit To address concerns from farm owners/producers, USDA personnel must take steps to ensure a reasonable level of biosecurity protection. Often, owners/producers may have more stringent biosecurity measures, and those should be followed instead.

• Avoid livestock areas, pens, barns, etc., unless it is necessary to complete the goal of the visit.
• Park your vehicle on paved or concrete areas, away from production sites on farm, to avoid contact with dirt, mud or manure. If not possible, be certain that tires are free of dirt and debris by hosing the tires and wheel wells before leaving the premises. If this does not clean the tires adequately, take the vehicle to a nearby pressure car wash.
• Wash hands with soap and water or an antibacterial gel before entering and after leaving the premises to avoid transmitting disease agents from person to person.

Biosecurity Levels: Routine levels of biosecurity measures are described below. When in doubt as to which level of biosecurity is needed, choose the higher level. These steps should be repeated for each premises that is visited.

Level 1- Visits to farms or ranches that entail office or home visits only. No contact with livestock or their housing (including pet horse or work dog).

• Use the minimum measures outlined above

Level 2- Visits to farms or ranches where minimal contact with livestock or their housing (barns, pens, hutches, etc) is unavoidable to attain the goal of the visit, i.e. property appraisals, tour of production facilities. Contact constitutes walking through animal housing or pastures where the animals are not within reach.

• Apply minimum biosecurity measures plus
• Immediately put clean rubber or new plastic boots upon exiting the vehicle.
• After returning to your vehicle. clean and disinfect any equipment used with a brush and approved EPA disinfectant solution (see listed supplies).
• Clean rubber boots with an approved EPA disinfectant diluted with water Scrub the bottoms of the boots with a brush to remove all dirt or debris. Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused disinfectant solution should not be discarded on the ground. If wearing plastic boots, place them in a plastic bag that should be left on the premises for the owner/producer for disposal or place in a designated~dirty~ area of your vehicle.
• Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused disinfectant solution should not be discarded on ground.

Level 3- Visits to farms/ranches where there will be close contact with livestock. This includes contact such as walking through narrowly confined pens/ lots where animals are within reach or actually handling inspecting the animals.

• Pre-plan the needed supplies and clothing for daily visits. Use a pair of clean coveralls for each premises.
• Designate a "dirty" area in your vehicle for clothing and equipment that has been used on the farm.
• Park your vehicle on paved or concrete surfaces away from production facilities.
• Put on clean coveralls and rubber boots immediately upon exiting the vehicle.
• After returning to your vehicle, clean and disinfect all equipment used (including eyewear) and place all disposable supplies in a plastic bag to leave with the owner/producer for disposal. If not possible, place plastic bag in the "dirty" area of the vehicle and dispose of in a manner that prevents exposure to other livestock.
• Clean rubber boots with an approved EPA disinfectant diluted with water. Scrub the bottoms of the boots with a brush to remove all dirt or debris. Dispose of disinfectant solution according to the label. Unused disinfectant solution should not be discarded on ground.
• Remove coveralls so that they are inside out and place in a garbage bag.
• Place the clean equipment and boots in the designated "clean" area of the vehicle.
• If the vehicle was not parked on a paved surface, wash vehicle tires and wheel wells to remove dirt and debris at a nearby pressure car wash.
• At the end of the day, dispose of all plastic bags that contain dirty supplies in a manner that prevents exposure to other livestock. Launder all coveralls. Personal hygiene should include shampooing hair and cleaning under fingernails.

Supplies: Supplies, as needed depending on Biosecurity level, for proper biosecurity should be purchased through each agency. Local APHIS-Veterinary Services officials or State Veterinarian office may assist in locating product vendors.

• Coveralls- Cloth or Tyvex
• Boots- Rubber or disposable plastic boots
• Latex exam gloves
• Large water container
• EPA approved disinfectant (Virkon-S, Oxonia Active/Oxycept 333)
• Long handled brush
• Trash bags
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle w/ water
• Liquid and/or gel antibacterial soap
• Bucket pail