© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to replace the old Plum Island Animal Disease Center off Long Island with a facility on the U.S. mainland to study Foot and Mouth Disease and other dangerous pathogens. Kansas won the job in 2008, with a site on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan.But today, more than three years later, the proposed $1.14 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility faces funding obstacles, safety questions, rising costs and political fallout. For Kansas and the Midwest, the stakes couldn’t be higher.Here you’ll find coverage and updates from Harvest Public Media, KCUR and Kansas Public Media.

Kansas State Tapped To Work On Animal Disease Outbreak Plan

Peggy Lowe
/
Harvest Public Media

Adding extra preparations following the disastrous bird flu outbreak this year, federal authorities have tapped Kansas State University to share its course on responding to agricultural emergencies.

K-State's National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC, is helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide training to first responders, according to a release from K-State.

Federal officials -- specifically the USDA -- were criticized for a slow and chaotic response to this year's outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu, which decimated the egg-laying and turkey industry in the Midwest.

The training will be included in the catalog of FEMA's National Training and Education Division, said Marvin Meinders with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs. It's crucial to have a collaborative operating plan for local, state and federal responders, he said.

"It's important for the local responder to be well trained since they are our nation's first line of defense against a foreign animal disease," he said.

The new program is different because it addresses the needs of not only animal disease experts, but others required to take a role in a foreign animal disease event.

During this year's bird flu outbreak, law enforcement was needed to enforce quarantine zones, transportation agencies to move huge numbers of carcasses, and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that carcass disposal did not contaminate ground water.

I partner with communities to uncover the ignored or misrepresented stories by listening and letting communities help identify and shape a narrative. My work brings new voices, sounds, and an authentic sense of place to our coverage of the Kansas City region. My goal is to tell stories on the radio, online, on social media and through face to face conversations that enhance civic dialogue and provide solutions.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.