Iowa Public Television

Narrator: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.

STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION IS CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF "IOWA PRESS," NOW SERVING THE STATE AS IOWA'S LONGEST RUNNING PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM. WITH THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: IN THE SWIFT-MOVING EVENTS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, U.S. EXPERTS IN PREVENTING TERRORISM HAVE BEEN FORCED FROM RISK ASSESSMENT TO PREVENTIVE ACTION. ALMOST DAILY REPORTS OF BIOTERRORISM AND VULNERABILITY TO ECOTERRORISM HAVE CHANGED THE LIVES AND PRIORITIES OF NEARLY EVERY AMERICAN. AND FOR THOSE WITH EXPERTISE ON THE SUBJECT, THERE'S A NEW URGENT DYNAMIC IN PROTECTING THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OF THE UNITED STATES. A PREVIOUSLY RELATIVELY OBSCURE BACTERIA, ANTHRAX, SUDDENLY IS A HOUSEHOLD WORD, DOMINATING WORKPLACE AND DINNER-TABLE CONVERSATIONS, AS WELL AS MEDIA REPORTING. THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING CLOSED, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECESSED, AND THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE IS ON HIGH ALERT. MICROBIOLOGISTS AND OTHERS WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, AS THE NATION SEEKS ANSWERS AND COUNSEL IN DEFENDING AGAINST THE NEW THREATS PENETRATING OUR SOCIETY. JOINING US NOW AT THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE ARE TWO OF THOSE EXPERTS. DR. MICHAEL DOYLE DIRECTS THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA'S CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY, AND DR. BERNARD SCHWETZ IS ACTING COMMISSIONER OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON D.C. BOTH DR. SCHWETZ AND DR. DOYLE WERE INVOLVED IN THIS WEEK'S BLUE-RIBBON SYMPOSIUM AT THE WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION IN DES MOINES, AND BOTH HAVE EXPERTISE IN ISSUES INVOLVING ECOTERRORISM AND BIOTERRORISM OF THE NATION'S AIR, WATER, AND FOOD. GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO "IOWA PRESS."

THANK YOU.

Borg: IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND YOUR VIEWS AND EXPERTISE. ACROSS THE TABLE: REPORTERS DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER" AND MIKE GLOVER OF "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS."

Glover: DR. SCHWETZ, GIVE US AN ASSESSMENT. HOW REAL IS THIS THREAT? HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE?

Schwetz: WELL, BASED ON THE EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, AND THE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED MORE RECENTLY, IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE IS A REAL TERRORIST ACTIVITY THAT'S OUT THERE, SO THERE'S NO DENYING THAT. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, AND SO ON, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT. FORTUNATELY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED THROUGH THE YEARS IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TOGETHER WITH STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, HAVE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCIES OF ALL KINDS. WHETHER THEY'RE NATURAL DISASTERS OR WHETHER THEY'RE MANMADE KINDS OF DISASTERS, THERE'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCIES. AND AT THIS POINT, THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION HAS CERTAINLY TURNED TO WHAT THINGS MIGHT BE OUT THERE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.

Glover: DR. DOYLE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. HOW REAL IS THIS THREAT? HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE? SHOULD PEOPLE BE ALTERING THEIR LIFESTYLES, DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY?

Doyle: I THINK IT'S A REAL THREAT; HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. MANY OF THESE HARMFUL BACTERIA AND VIRUSES AND OTHER ORGANISMS THAT MIGHT BE USED TO CONTAMINATE FOODS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO HEAT. SO WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE, IN OUR OWN CONTROL, THE OPPORTUNITY TO NEUTRALIZE THE PROBLEM. AND THAT IS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EAT LETTUCE AS FRESH LETTUCE BUT, IF WE FIND THERE IS A PROBLEM IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY, COOKING FOOD IS GOING TO BE A SOLUTION IN MANY OF THESE CASES.

Yepsen: COMMISSIONER SCHWETZ, IS THERE A UNIQUE THREAT HERE TO IOWA? WE GROW A LOT OF FOOD HERE. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. DO YOU SEE UNIQUE PROBLEMS TO THIS STATE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

Schwetz: I DON'T THINK THERE ARE UNIQUE THREATS TO THE STATE OF IOWA. FIRST OF ALL, IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ATTACK FROM SOME TERRORIST MEANS, IT COULD BE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS, SO THERE ISN'T JUST ONE THAT IS MORE LIKELY THAN ANY OTHER ONES. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SO BIG IN AGRICULTURE MAKES THE PROBABILITY GREATER THAN STATES WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY AGRICULTURE. SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, YES. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE AGENT WILL BE, WHAT IT WOULD BE DELIVERED IN, IT'S PRETTY HARD TO SAY THAT ANY ONE PLACE IS MORE VULNERABLE.

Yepsen: DR. DOYLE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING UNIQUE, A THREAT THAT IS UNIQUE TO IOWA BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE BREADBASKET OF THE COUNTRY?

Doyle: I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY IOWA SPECIFICALLY SHOULD BE, MORESO, TARGETED THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF MAJOR FOOD PROCESSORS, WHERE PROCESSING IS CENTRALIZED, WHICH IS THE TREND OF THE INDUSTRY TODAY, THERE'S A GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR RISK TO OCCUR. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS HAVE PUT SECURITY IN PLACE THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO PREVENT THIS CONTAMINATION FROM OCCURRING.

Borg: DR. SCHWETZ -- COMMISSIONER SCHWETZ, CAN WE ANTICIPATE ANYTHING FROM THE FDA IN THE WAY OF PREVENTIVE ACTION BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS? YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK TO SEPTEMBER 11 AND INTELLIGENCE THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AVAILABLE TO HAVE PREVENTED THAT. CAN WE ANTICIPATE SOMETHING FROM THE FDA IN PREVENTING SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE FOOD SUPPLY?

Schwetz: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE FDA -- BETWEEN THE FDA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STATE AGENCIES IN TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THE NEXT THING MIGHT BE. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR RESOURCES, WE HAVE CERTAINLY INCREASED OUR ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTED; THINGS THAT MIGHT MOVE FROM ONE PART OF THE INDUSTRY TO ANOTHER IN WAYS WHERE IT COULD BE CONTAMINATED. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD, WE'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING SURE THAT THE RIGHT DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE, VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE, AND DEVICES FOR DETECTING THESE KINDS OF AGENTS IN PRODUCTS. SO ALL OF THAT HAS SEEN A LOT OF ADDITIONAL ATTENTION IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

Borg: DR. DOYLE, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN FOOD SAFETY, ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT YOU'D RECOMMEND AS IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS?

Doyle: PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT OUR FOOD IS VERY SAFE AND SECURE. I THINK THE AGENCY, THE FDA, THE USDA - ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND HAVE IN THE PAST DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN MAINTAINING THE SAFETY OF OUR FOODS. HOWEVER, IF THAT EVENT OCCURS, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO REACT. AND COOKING FOODS IS ONE OF THOSE SOLUTIONS. IN MOST CASES, THESE HARMFUL MICROORGANISMS CAN BE KILLED BY COOKING.

Yepsen: SO I DON'T GET TO EAT MY HAMBURGER RARE ANYMORE?

Doyle: WELL, YOU SHOULDN'T EAT THAT HAMBURGER RARE ANYWAY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME E-COLI 0157 SOMETIMES IN THAT GROUND BEEF.

Glover: DR. SCHWETZ, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PROTECT A FOOD SUPPLY. FOOD, BY ITS DEFINITION, IS PRODUCED OUT IN THE OPEN, IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. HOW DO YOU PROTECT A FOOD SUPPLY FROM SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO CONTAMINATE IT? LAST YEAR IN THE STATE, WE HAD AN OUTBREAK OF PROBLEMS WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE COULD BE INTRODUCED IN LIVESTOCK HERDS PRETTY EASILY. HOW DO YOU PROTECT A SYSTEM THAT ESSENTIALLY OPERATES IN THE OPEN?

Schwetz: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO WATCH FOR, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THE PUBLIC CAN DO AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WATCH FOR ALL THE TIME IS ANY EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING. IT'S IS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG. IT MIGHT BE IN PACKAGING. IT MIGHT BE IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCT ITSELF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN PROCESSED. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ALL DO AS CONSUMERS IS WATCH FOR EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE, THEN WE COME IN VERY QUICKLY WITH THE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO FIND OUT IF THAT TAMPERING MIGHT IN FACT MAKE THIS PRODUCT LESS SAFE. AND MOST TIMES, WE'VE GOT A LONG HISTORY OF TAMPERINGS AND, FOR THE MOST PART, IT DOESN'T ENDANGER THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC, IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD, BUT WE KEEP WATCHING FOR THAT.

Glover: DR. DOYLE, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE IS SOME VULNERABILITY WHERE INCREASED CENTRALITY OF PRODUCTION EXISTS. IN THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY, THAT'S A TREND. THEY'RE GOING TO LARGER AND LARGER PROCESSING FACILITIES, LARGER AND LARGER PRODUCTION FACILITIES. DOES THAT AGGRAVATE THE PROBLEM?

Doyle: IT COULD. IT COULD. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD SECURITY AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD WORK FORCE THAT YOU CAN TRUST, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS WITHIN PROCESSING PLANTS, WHICH I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE HIGHLY VULNERABLE.

Glover: HOW DO YOU ENSURE GOOD SECURITY AND A QUALITY WORK FORCE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEAT PACKERS IN PARTICULAR ARE LOOKING FOR LOW-WAGE, QUICK-TURNOVER EMPLOYEES?

Doyle: WELL, MEAT PACKING -- PERSONALLY I WOULDN'T CONSIDER MEAT PACKING TO BE AN AREA THAT WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY HIGH TARGET, SIMPLY BECAUSE MEATS ARE CUT UP AND LARGELY SOLD AS CUTS AND THAT WILL NOT MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE SICK. ONE STEAK IS GOING TO MAKE ONE PERSON SICK, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO -- IF A TERRORIST WERE TO AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY'D WANT TO CONTAMINATE A LOT OF FOOD.

Glover: WHAT ABOUT A CONFINEMENT PORK FACILITY WITH 10-, 15,000 HEADS OF ANIMALS UNDER ONE ROOF?

Doyle: WELL, IF THE MEAT WERE TO BE MIXED AND MADE INTO SOMETHING -- IF IT WERE SOMETHING LIKE BEEF, WHERE YOU'D MAKE A LOT OF GROUND BEEF, THEN THERE'S A GREATER POTENTIAL. BUT TO GO BACK TO THE POINT I MADE EARLIER, IF WE COOK THAT MEAT AS WE SHOULD ANYWAY -- GROUND BEEF SHOULD BE COOKED TO AT LEAST 160 DEGREES -- IT SHOULD BE SAFE.

Yepsen: COMMISSIONER, YOU MENTIONED PART OF YOUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THE NATION'S DRUG SUPPLY. IS THERE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF ANTIBIOTICS AND DRUGS AVAILABLE TO COMBAT ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL THREATS? WE HEAR ABOUT SHORTAGES OF CIPRO, THE DRUG THAT'S USED TO TREAT ANTHRAX NOW, A RUN ON THAT. WHAT'S THE STATE OF OUR SUPPLY, I GUESS?

Schwetz: WELL, THE MANUFACTURERS OF CIPRO HAVE DONE WHAT THEY CAN AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION OF CIPRO. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO IS THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE THAT THERE ARE TETRACYCLINES AND PENICILLINS THAT ARE ALSO EFFECTIVE AGAINST ANTHRAX, SO WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION TOGETHER TO PUT OUT INTO THE FEDERAL REGISTER TO INFORM PRACTITIONERS OF HOW TO PROPERLY TREAT PATIENTS WITH THESE OTHER DRUGS THAT ARE MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE AND LESS EXPENSIVE.

Yepsen: AND ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT AMERICANS HAVE DEVELOPED A RESISTANCE TO THESE ANTIBIOTICS? YOU KNOW, WE TAKE AN ANTIBIOTIC EVERY TIME WE GET A HEAD COLD. AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING A RESISTANCE TO THESE, SUCH THAT NOW THAT WE COME AROUND TO GETTING SOMETHING SERIOUS LIKE ANTHRAX OR WHATEVER, WE'VE GOT A RESISTANCE IN OUR SYSTEM THAT MAKES SOME OF THESE OTHER DRUGS INEFFECTIVE.

Schwetz: THE DRUGS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT NOW ARE ONES FOR WHICH THE LEVEL OF RESISTANCE IS EITHER VERY SMALL OR DOESN'T EXIST, BUT IT IS A CONCERN THAT IF WE USE ANTIBIOTICS WIDESPREAD UNNECESSARILY THAT YOU COULD DEVELOP RESISTANCE.

Borg: IN THE CASE OF CIPRO, ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW GENERIC MANUFACTURERS TO MANUFACTURE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE PATENT, BAYER?

Schwetz: AT THIS POINT THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED, AND THERE ISN'T ANY DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE SO FAR.

Yepsen: DR. DOYLE, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF FOOD THAT WE GROW HERE. MIKE TALKED ABOUT LIVESTOCK. WHAT ABOUT GRAINS? WHAT IS THE THREAT TO GRAIN SUPPLIES THAT YOU SEE? WHAT CAN BE DONE THERE TO PREVENT A PROBLEM?

Doyle: WELL, I THINK IN GRAIN SITUATIONS, GRAIN TYPICALLY IS MADE INTO OTHER PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED AS FOODS, WHICH ARE ULTIMATELY COOKED. AND IF THE PRODUCT IS BAKED OR COOKED, THAT WILL NORMALLY NEUTRALIZE OR INACTIVATE THE TOXIN OR PATHOGEN THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT.

Yepsen: SO DON'T WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THESE CROP DUST -- THIS TALK OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND CROP DUSTING PLANES?

Doyle: I THINK THE FOODS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AT GREATEST RISK ARE THOSE FOODS THAT ARE READY TO EAT, SUCH AS PRODUCE. IF PRODUCE WERE TO BE CONTAMINATED, WE CAN'T ALWAYS WASH OFF HIGH LEVELS OF PATHOGENS FROM PRODUCE. WE'D HAVE TO PEEL IT OR COOK IT.

Glover: DR. SCHWETZ, PUT YOUR ADVISOR HAT ON FOR A SECOND. THE LEGISLATURE IN THIS STATE IS LIKELY GOING TO COME BACK INTO A SPECIAL SESSION SOMETIME IN THE NEXT MONTH. THERE HAS BEEN TALK AMONG SOME OF THE LEADERS THERE ABOUT WHAT THEY OUGHT TO BE DOING TO REACT TO THIS KIND OF THREAT. WHAT SHOULD THEY BE DOING?

Schwetz: I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO RESPOND INTELLIGENTLY AND NOT WITH PANIC, TO BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT NOT TO START TO STOCKPILE DRUGS AND TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY. ANOTHER THING IS TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES SO THAT IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SAMPLES TAKEN OF PRODUCTS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE AGENT, WHAT IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE WAS CONTAMINATION. IT TAKES AN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SAMPLING, TO RUN THE SAMPLES, TO GET THE INFORMATION BACK, TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OF WHAT TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC. SO BETWEEN THE EDUCATION OF THE CONSUMERS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY, IF THERE IS ONE, I THINK THOSE ARE TWO VERY HIGH PRIORITIES.

Glover: DR. DOYLE, IMAGINE THAT I'M A LEGISLATIVE LEADER, GOD FORBID, AND I COME TO YOU ASKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW BIG THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE, HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO HAVE TO SET ASIDE, HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT MY STATE SPENDING PRIORITIES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?

Doyle: THE ISSUES THAT DR. SCHWETZ HAD INDICATED ARE REAL, AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER --

Glover: WILL I NEED TO JUMBLE UP MY SPENDING PRIORITIES? AM I GOING TO HAVE TO REORDER THINGS HERE?

Doyle: WELL, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO DO THAT, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DAY. WE NEED TO RETHINK FOOD SAFETY IN GENERAL.

Yepsen: DR. DOYLE, WHAT SHOULD FARMERS DO? LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME INDIVIDUALS HERE. TWO KINDS OF FOLKS WATCHING THIS PROGRAM... A LOT OF FARMERS AND INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS. SO, DR. DOYLE, WHAT SHOULD AN INDIVIDUAL FARMER BE DOING? WHAT SHOULD AN INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER BE DOING? YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE SURE WE COOK OUR MEAT AND WASH OUR VEGETABLES. ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF THAT PRODUCERS, AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS SHOULD BE DOING OR THAT INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS SHOULD BE DOING?

Doyle: I THINK PRODUCERS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT EXIST. AND IF THERE'S UNUSUAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR AREA, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AUTHORITIES. IN TERMS OF CONSUMERS, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT CONSUMERS CAN DO. WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER EATING LESS READY-TO-EAT TYPES OF FOODS AND COOKING FOODS, PERHAPS, IN SOME CASES MORE THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT THERE ARE SOLUTIONS FOR US. WE AS CONSUMERS CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL FOOD-BORNE CONTAMINATION IF WE SO DESIRE.

Yepsen: BY COOKING AND BY WASHING.

Doyle: EXACTLY.

Yepsen: COMMISSIONER, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT SHOULD INDIVIDUAL FARMERS BE DOING, FOOD PRODUCERS, AND THEN WHAT SHOULD INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS BE DOING? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING?

Schwetz: BEING ATTENTIVE, FOR ONE THING. KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU. THE INDIVIDUAL FARMERS KNOW THEIR ANIMALS AND THEIR PRODUCTION FACILITY BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND THEY KNOW THE HEALTH OF THEIR ANIMALS. THEY KNOW THE NATURE OF THE FEEDS THAT THEY FEED THEM AND THE SOURCES. THEY KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THEY KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. THEY CAN BE VERY ATTENTIVE TO ANYTHING THAT CHANGES THAT WOULD SAY, "SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG HERE, SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH THE HEALTH OF MY ANIMALS." SO I THINK THE FARMERS ARE A BIG PART OF US KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HEALTH OF ALL OF OUR AGRICULTURE.

Yepsen: AND WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS?

Schwetz: INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS IN THE SAME WAY. WE ARE AWARE OF OUR STATE OF HEALTH. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU WERE TO CONSUME SOMETHING THAT MADE YOU FEEL UNUSUAL, JUST KEEPING TRACK AND REPORTING TO YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU DO FIND ILLNESS IN YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU WOULD ORDINARILY SEE. JUST TO BE ATTENTIVE.

Glover: DR. DOYLE, WE BRING A LOT OF FOOD INTO THIS COUNTRY. SHOULD WE BE DOING MORE TO INSPECT, TO REGULATE FOOD BEING BROUGHT INTO THIS COUNTRY?

Doyle:, PERSONALLY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD.

Glover: WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

Doyle: VERY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, I BELIEVE IT'S ONE PERCENT OR THEREABOUTS, OF THE FOOD THAT'S IMPORTED INTO THE COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY INSPECTED. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH COUNTRIES FROM WHOM WE INSPECT AND TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY IMPLEMENT THE SAME TYPES OF CRITERIA THAT WE USE IN THIS COUNTRY TO PRODUCE FOODS.

Glover: WHERE DO WE GET FOOD FROM AND WHAT DO WE GET?

Doyle: I THINK DR. SCHWETZ MIGHT BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO ANSWER THAT, BUT WE DO GET IT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD: MEXICO, LATIN AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA.

Glover: DR. SCHWETZ, LET'S TURN THE QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING TO INSPECT MORE OF THE FOOD THAT WE BRING INTO THIS COUNTRY? WHAT DO WE GET AND WHERE DO WE GET IT?

Schwetz: WELL, DR. DOYLE IS RIGHT. WE BRING FOOD IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE BRING IT IN ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WANTS TO HAVE WHATEVER THEY WANT ALL THE TIME. THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS 10, 15 YEARS AGO WHEN WE TOOK THINGS IN SEASON. SO NOW WE'RE BRINGING THINGS INTO THE COUNTRY ALL THE TIME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HE'S ALSO RIGHT THAT WE HANDS-ON INSPECT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE IMPORTED, AND THAT'S TRUE FOR FOOD AS WELL. SO WHAT WE WOULD NEED AS A COUNTRY AND AS AN AGENCY IS A GREATER PRESENCE AT THE BORDER WHERE THESE IMPORTED PRODUCTS COME IN. WE'RE AWARE OF WHAT COMES IN THROUGH TRACKING SYMPTOMS JUST ON COMPUTERS, BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE HANDS-ON INSPECTIONS. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE LABORATORIES, JUST LIKE YOU DO IN THE STATE, TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE SAMPLING AND RUNNING THE ANALYSES SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, WE'VE GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL, THE NATIONAL LEVEL, TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT.

Glover: AS A CONSUMER, AM I GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE IF I WANT MY BROCCOLI IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER?

Schwetz: OH, THE ANSWER CLEARLY IS YES, BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO BRING IT INTO THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME FROM LONGER DISTANCES.

Glover: AND MORE SECURITY AT THOSE BORDERS?

Schwetz: MORE SECURITY.

Glover: IS IT A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ISSUE?

Schwetz: AT THIS POINT, THE COSTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVE PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO "IS THIS GOING TO RAISE THE COST OF BROCCOLI A LITTLE BIT." SO WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT TRYING TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY IF THERE IS ONE.

Borg: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR FOOD PRODUCED IN THIS COUNTRY TO BEEF UP THE USDA INSPECTION SYSTEM?

Schwetz: WELL, ALL OF OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES COULD USE MORE RESOURCES TO DO MORE INSPECTIONS AND INSPECTIONS THAT ARE TARGETED MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE CONCERNS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US TODAY. THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT USDA HAS IS BASED ON THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE. SO NOW WHEN WE'RE FACED WITH NEW ISSUES, PART OF THE QUESTION IS HAVING THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO A BRAND-NEW CONCERN.

Yepsen: COMMISSIONER, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ANTHRAX. NOW WE'RE HEARING TALK OF OTHER ILLNESSES, DISEASES BEING SPREAD, PARTICULARLY SMALLPOX. THAT'S VERY SCARY TO PEOPLE. WHAT IS THE THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES FROM SOME TERRORIST TRYING TO DISTRIBUTE SMALLPOX, TRYING TO INFECT THE POPULATION WITH SMALLPOX?

Schwetz: WELL, THE POSSIBILITY IS THERE THAT IT COULD BE DONE. SMALLPOX IS NOT AN EASY ORGANISM TO SPREAD. FOOD WOULDN'T BE A VERY LIKELY MEANS OF INTRODUCING SMALLPOX VIRUS INTO A POPULATION. BUT THE POSSIBILITY IS THERE ARE A FEW LABORATORIES IN THE WORLD THAT PROBABLY DO HAVE SMALLPOX ORGANISMS, AND IF THEY SO CHOSE, THEY COULD EXPOSE OTHER PEOPLE.

Yepsen: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? IS THERE ANYTHING THIS COUNTRY CAN DO?

Schwetz: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DOSES OF VACCINE THAT WE HAVE FOR SMALLPOX THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THERE WAS AN EXPOSURE. WE DO HAVE SOME AVAILABLE FROM THE DAYS WHEN WE DID VACCINATE PEOPLE FOR SMALLPOX. WE HAVE SOME OF THAT LEFT YET THAT COULD BE USED IN AN EMERGENCY NOW. WE'RE TALKING WITH THE INDUSTRY TO FIND OUT IF WE CAN SCALE-UP THE PRODUCTION SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE NEW MATERIAL AVAILABLE IN LARGER AMOUNTS.

Yepsen: DO WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DAYS WHERE WE GAVE EVERYONE A SHOT?

Schwetz: THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION AS WELL, BUT PART OF THE DIFFICULTY OF THAT NOW IS YOU WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO USE A LOT OF THE VACCINE UP ON VACCINATING PEOPLE FOR WHOM YOU WOULD NEVER NEED IT. SO IT'S BEING SAVED FOR AN EMERGENCY.

Borg: MR. SCHWETZ, I'D LIKE TO DISTILL THE DISCUSSION UP TO THIS POINT, IF I CAN, AND FOCUS "WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE MOST VULNERABLE?" WHAT IS LIKELY -- MOST LIKELY TO HAPPEN?

Schwetz: THAT'S A VERY HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FRONTS. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DO IS TO GIVE IDEAS TO COPYCATS BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW SERIOUS PEOPLE -- PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD ENGAGE IN TERRORISM, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING TO SEE. AND AS A RESULT, FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES TO COME OUT AND SAY THIS IS WHERE WE'RE VULNERABLE, THERE'S THE AGENT, HERE'S THE FOOD PRODUCT, WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS OF, "IF I DID THIS, NOBODY WOULD PAY ATTENTION."

Glover: DR. DOYLE, IS THERE A DANGER HERE THAT WE IN THE AMERICAN MEDIA, WE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ARE GOING TO OVERREACT TO THIS AND JUMP INTO A PANIC?

Doyle: I THINK SO. IN FACT, I THINK THE ANTHRAX SITUATION IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHERE INITIALLY WE THOUGHT ANTHRAX WAS GOING TO BE A MORE SEVERE PROBLEM THAN IT'S TURNING OUT TO BE. WE HAVE ANTIBIOTICS THAT WILL CONTROL THIS ORGANISM. PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ARE NOT BECOMING -- ARE NOT, IN GENERAL, BECOMING ILL. THOSE WHO WERE THE SENTINEL -- THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS THE SENTINEL IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE ULTIMATELY DIED, BUT HIS SYMPTOMS HAD PROGRESSED SO FAR THAT THE ANTIBIOTICS COULDN'T WORK. SO TODAY I THINK ANTHRAX IS A SITUATION THAT WE CAN CONTROL WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AND WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP BRINGING UP THAT, "HEY, ANTHRAX IS IN THIS LETTER AND THAT LETTER," BECAUSE EVEN IF ONE'S EXPOSED, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ABLE TO BE TREATED FOR IT AND IT'S NO LONGER A PROBLEM.

Glover: COMMISSIONER, GIVE US YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HOW THIS NATION IS REACTING TO THIS LATEST BIOLOGICAL THREAT. HAVE WE OVERREACTED? HAVE WE PANICKED? HOW HAVE WE DONE?

Schwetz: WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN LOCAL POCKETS OF PANIC. AND OBVIOUSLY, WHEN PEOPLE AROUND YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMETHING, THERE'S GREAT REASON TO BE CONCERNED. I THINK THE NATION IN GENERAL IS -- AT THIS POINT NOW WHERE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH ATTENTION GIVEN TO ANTHRAX, I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE LESS LEVEL OF CONCERN NOW THAN THERE WAS IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS. BIOTERRORISM IS A NEW THING FOR US. WE'VE WORRIED ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. THERE IS A LEVEL OF SENSITIVITY THAT THIS WOULD BE TERRIBLE IF IT EVER HAPPENED. WELL, NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT FOR A FEW WEEKS AND IT IS TERRIBLE, BUT IT ISN'T THE KIND OF CATASTROPHE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNDER A WAR KIND OF SITUATION. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY, BECAUSE IF YOU TRY TO TELL PEOPLE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, THAT'S NOT GOOD. IF YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO PANIC, THAT'S BAD TOO, SO ALL I'VE BEEN SAYING IS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF AWARENESS. WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY IN THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY IF THERE IS ONE. SO THE INCREASED LEVEL OF AWARENESS IS GOOD, BUT DON'T PANIC.

Glover: HAS THE MEDIA OVERREACTED? HAS THE MEDIA GONE TOO FAR, DEVOTED TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS?

Schwetz: WELL, MAYBE IN SOME WAYS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A REAL INCIDENT AND THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IT, YOU BEGIN TO SEE A LOT OF COPYCATS. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU REPORT WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, SO THAT'S HARD TO ANSWER THAT.

Yepsen: WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE GETTING AT THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW DO YOU ALLAY THE PARANOIA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL OUT THERE? PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

Schwetz: PEOPLE ARE SCARED. I THINK WE GO ON DAY TO DAY KNOWING THAT WE'VE HANDLED A LOT OF EMERGENCIES IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF HANDLING ONE NOW. WE HANDLED THE EMERGENCY IN NEW YORK CITY PRETTY EFFECTIVELY. THAT WAS MANAGED THROUGH THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SO THERE IS SOMETHING COMFORTING, I THINK, TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCIES.

Yepsen: DR. DOYLE, ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW --

Doyle: I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE IN REPORTING, AND THAT IS, YES, WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE EXPOSED BUT, YES, WE HAVE ANTIBIOTICS THAT TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM.

Glover: DR. SCHWETZ, WHAT KIND OF A MESSAGE IS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN GETTING AT THIS POINT AND TIME? THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS BEING TOLD BY THE PRESIDENT, "YES, WE'RE IN A LONG-TERM WAR, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO LIVING YOUR LIFE AS USUAL. GO BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL. FLY, TAKE VACATIONS, DO ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF." AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY HOME IN AMERICA IS GETTING A NOTICE IN THE POSTAL SERVICE ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THEIR MAIL. WHAT KIND OF A MESSAGE ARE PEOPLE GETTING?

Schwetz: WELL, IN THIS CASE, I THINK THE MIXED MESSAGE IS RIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE DO HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL. WE RECEIVE THINGS IN THE MAIL ALL THE TIME THAT NOW WARRANT MORE ATTENTION. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE ENGAGED IN A SERIOUS NATIONAL EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS, TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE. SO IT IS A MIXED MESSAGE AND WE HAVE TO BE LISTENING TO ALL OF IT AND SORTING IT OUT.

Yepsen: COMMISSIONER, WE'VE GOT JUST ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LEFT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING PERSONALLY THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11 TO AVOID THESE THREATS OF BIOTERRORISM? ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT? ARE YOU COOKING YOUR HAMBURGERS LONGER?

Schwetz: I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN THAT WAY, EXCEPT WORKING LONGER HOURS TO TRY TO KEEP AHEAD OF IT.

Yepsen: DR. DOYLE?

Doyle: I'VE ALWAYS COOKED MY HAMBURGERS LONGER. BUT SERIOUSLY, NO, I PERSONALLY AM NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT. I'M FLYING. I'M EATING AS I HAD IN THE PAST. AND IF A SITUATION SHOULD DEVELOP THAT SHOWS THERE IS A REASON TO BE CONCERNED, THEN I'LL REACT ACCORDINGLY.

Borg: ARE YOU LIKELY TO ASK CONGRESS FOR ANY EMERGENCY POWER SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY?

Schwetz: THAT'S ALREADY UNDER DISCUSSION: ADDITIONAL BUDGET, ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITIES.

Borg: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

PLEASURE.

Borg: AS WE INDICATED EARLIER, THE 2000/2002 BROADCAST SEASON BRINGS A NEW SCHEDULE FOR "IOWA PRESS." AND WE NOW AIR FRIDAY AT 6:30 IN THE EVENING, SUNDAY AT NOON HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND YOU ALSO HEARD EARLIER THAT "IOWA PRESS" IS CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY. WE CLOSE NOW WITH A LOOK AT OUR "IOWA PRESS" PAST. FORMER U.S. SENATOR DICK CLARK OF IOWA WAS A FREQUENT "IOWA PRESS" GUEST. IN OCTOBER, 1978, HE DISCUSSED HIS OPPOSITION TO THE THEN 33-PERCENT FEDERAL TAX CUT PROPOSED TO WHAT WAS CALLED THE KEMP-ROTH AMENDMENT. INSTEAD, SENATOR CLARK CHAMPIONED THE DEFICIT REDUCTION PROPOSALS OF HIS FELLOW CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

Clark: YOU CAN'T TELL ME OR ANY REASONABLE PERSON THAT YOU CAN CUT THE GOVERNMENT'S REVENUE BY ONE-THIRD AND NOT HAVE GREATER DEFICIT SPENDING. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DEFICIT SPENDING. THAT'S WHAT "BUSINESS WEEK" MAGAZINE SAYS. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPPOSES IT. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT CUT TAXES BY ONE-THIRD. THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT THE ROTH-KEMP PROPOSAL GIVES A THIRD OF ALL OF THE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE OVER $50,000 A YEAR. THAT IS 2 PERCENT OF THE TAXPAYERS, AND IT'S JUST NOT AN EQUITABLE WAY TO DO IT. I THINK WE CAN AFFORD A $20-BILLION TAX CUT. I SUPPORT THAT. WE FIGURE THIS YEAR THAT WE'LL HAVE A $50-BILLION INCREASE IN REVENUE JUST FROM THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY. NOW, IF WE CUT TAXES $20 BILLION, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A GREATER SURPLUS. NOW, REMEMBER THIS, IT'S AN INTERESTING FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF: WE'VE GOT TO CUT DEFICIT SPENDING; AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE. IN THE FORD ADMINISTRATION IN 1975, WE HAD A $66-BILLION DEFICIT, THE BIGGEST ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY. IN '76 WE CUT THAT TO $54 BILLION. IN '77 WE CUT THAT TO $45 BILLION. IN '78, $49 BILLION. THIS YEAR, '79, WHICH WE'VE JUST APPROPRIATED THE FUNDS FOR, WE'RE AT $38.8 BILLION. WE'VE CUT DEFICIT SPENDING IN HALF IN FOUR YEARS. NOW, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I THINK WE CAN GO DOWN TO A BALANCED BUDGET, BUT WE'RE REALLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING.

Narrator: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS.