Elephants, rats and hedgehogs also are susceptible. Since the first case was confirmed in England on Feb. 20, the virus has spread to France, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and the Irish Republic, based on reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Additional outbreaks in mid March hit Argentina and the Middle East. He did not identify the country, or the corporation, but said his department is seeing an increase in shipments smuggled into the country containing banned products. Tourists, or Americans returning from contaminated areas overseas are another means of transmission.
People can carry it on their clothes, shoes and bodies.
However, the measures come without guarantees of success. Even so, it's likely that any outbreak in America would be a major blow to our livestock economy. State protocol calls in part for closing deer hunting season and canceling the state fair if the virus is detected. Nationally, various universities either have, or are considering canceling overseas study programs, particularly those connected to agricultural programs, and some zoos are isolating susceptible animals from the public. It would devastate not only our livestock, it would devastate crop production and destroy the economy of rural Minnesota and the entire upper Midwest.