Biosecurity Monitors

People have battled insects, beetles, and other pests, as well as infectious animal diseases, since the early days of agriculture. In recent decades, there have been a number of high-profile infectious disease outbreaks in animal populations that have caused people to get sick, tens of thousands of animals to be slaughtered (to stop the spread of the threat), temporary loss of public confidence in the food supply, and significant financial damage to the agriculture industry. Examples include the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2001 and the 2003 outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United States and Canada.

Biological agents have also been used to deliberately harm humans. In 2001, powdered anthrax spores were deliberately put into letters that were mailed to members of the media and Congress. (Anthrax is a “serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis,” according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.). A total of 22 people—including 12 mail handlers—got anthrax, and five people died.

These developments have prompted U.S. government agencies and the agriculture industry to increase efforts to identify and prevent natural and human-made hazardous biological agents from entering the country or otherwise affecting people. Biosecurity monitors are at the forefront of these prevention and protection efforts.