WHO'S AFRAID OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE?; DESPITE SCARE, LOCAL BEEF SELLING WELL

It ruined St. Patrick's Day in Dublin. It's keeping foreign tourists out of the Irish countryside. It's decimating British herds of cattle and sheep.

But news about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease overseas isn't bothering meat-eating Southeast Missouri residents at all.

"Doesn't bother me any," said Dale Pruitt of Cape Girardeau. "I bought a porterhouse today. It's in my refrigerator."

Foot-and-mouth disease isn't harmful to people and is rarely fatal to animals, but it renders meat from affected livestock worthless. Nearly 300,000 animals in England have been killed or marked for destruction during the recent outbreak. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently banned meat imports from the 15 countries in the European Union to keep the plague out of this country.

The disease can be carried from one country to the next on clothing, luggage, animal products and shoes, but there hasn't been a case in the U.S. since 1929.

State animal-health officials are working closely with federal officials, veterinarians, airports and livestock processors to provide safeguards against the livestock disease making its way into the United States.

Those assurances seem to be enough for local shoppers, local butchers say.

"We're selling more beef than ever," said Ryland "Dutch" Meyr, operator of Fruitland Dressed Meats. Mid-February and March sales were higher this year than past years, he said.

"We don't want any of it here," said Myer of the disease. He recently attended a National Meat Association meeting where it was a topic of discussion. "Everybody is keeping watch on livestock. We do testing and screening on every cow that comes in here. We have a regular scientific lab."

A case of foot-and-mouth disease would be an economic catastrophe, he said.

But so far, so good.

"Even with higher prices, people are buying beef," said Bob Osborne of the Meat Shop in Cape Girardeau.

Managers at Schnucks, Albertson's and Food Giant in Cape Girardeau all agreed -- locals are buying as much beef as ever. And Jim Kincy, manager of Country Mart in Jackson, said the store hasn't experienced any decline in beef sales.

"That could change immediately if hoof-and-mouth was discovered in the U.S," he said.

Diners also trust their local chefs to pick good beef. Delmonico's at Jackson and Western Sizzlin in Cape Girardeau, restaurants that specialize in steaks, report they are busy as ever.

"Actually, we've been busier than usual," said Janet Ackman of Delmonico's.

Still, there are precautions that Missourians should take to ensure it's business as usual for local livestock farmers, butchers and restaurant owners.

Missouri state veterinarian John W. Hunt said: "Stringent safeguards are in place to prevent it from reaching this country. These factors underscore the safety of our food supply in light of this outbreak in Europe."

Hunt urged Missouri livestock producers and veterinarians to do their part by watching livestock for any signs of the disease. Infected animals quit eating because of painful tongue and mouth lesions, and may develop lameness with reluctance to move, he said.

Some Southeast Missouri farmers are concerned about publicity of what is happening in other countries, said Roger Aikens, who works with livestock farmers out of the University of Missouri Extension office at Jackson, Mo.

"Many media reports are negative, and livestock farmers are afraid that people will stop eating beef here," said Aikens.

But there's good news for farmers as well. Beef prices have increased since September, Aikens said.

"Last week's prices were up about 30 percent from the prices of six months ago," he said. That translates from about 60 to 62 cents a pound on the hoof in September to about 77 to 79 cents a pound now.