US food supply threatened: Foreign insects, diseases got into US post 9/11
'Whether they know it or not, every person in the country is affected by this,' scientist says
“無論他們知道與否，全國每個人都受這影響，”科學家說
updated 10/10/2011 5:47:24 AM
農業專家馬克墨菲與美國海關和邊境保護組檢查一袋袋大米，2011年8月於加州奧克蘭的巡視期間。
FRESNO, Calif. — Dozens of foreign insects and plant diseases slipped undetected into the United States in the years after 9/11, when authorities were so focused on preventing another attack that they overlooked a pest explosion that threatened the quality of the nation's food supply.
加利福尼亞州弗雷斯諾 - 數十種外國昆蟲和植物病害在9/11之後多年溜進美国未被發現，由於當局是如此集中在防備另一次攻擊，他們忽略了一次討厭病蟲的爆發，威脅到國家食品供應的質素。
At the time, hundreds of agricultural scientists responsible for stopping invasive species at the border were reassigned to anti-terrorism duties in the newly formed Homeland Security Department — a move that scientists say cost billions of dollars in crop damage and eradication efforts from California vineyards to Florida citrus groves.
當時，數百名在邊境負責阻止入侵物種的農業科學家，被重新分配給新成立的國土安全部反恐責任 - 一項調動科學家們說，損失代價值數十億美元的農作物損失和消除努力，由加州葡萄園到佛羅里達州柑橘園。
The consequences come home to consumers in the form of higher grocery prices, substandard produce and the risk of environmental damage from chemicals needed to combat the pests.
後果轉嫁給消費者以較高的雜貨店價格形式，不合格的產物和來自化學物的環境損害風險需要防治害蟲。
An Associated Press analysis of inspection records found that border-protection officials were so engrossed in stopping terrorists that they all but ignored the country's exposure to destructive new insects and infections — a quietly growing menace that has been attacking fruits and vegetables and even prized forests ever since.
"Whether they know it or not, every person in the country is affected by this, whether by the quality or cost of their food, the pesticide residue on food or not being able to enjoy the outdoors because beetles are killing off the trees," said Mark Hoddle, an entomologist specializing in invasive species at the University of California, Riverside.
Homeland Security officials acknowledge making mistakes and say they are now working to step up agricultural inspections at border checkpoints, airports and seaports.
While not as dire as terrorism, the threat is considerable and hard to contain.
Many invasive species are carried into the U.S. by people who are either unaware of the laws or are purposely trying to skirt quarantine regulations. The hardest to stop are fruits, vegetables and spices carried by international travelers or shipped by mail. If tainted with insects or infections, they could carry contagions capable of devastating crops.
Plants and cut flowers can harbor larvae, as can bags of bulk commodities such as rice. Beetles have been found hitchhiking on the bottom of tiles from Italy, and boring insects have burrowed into the wooden pallets commonly used in cargo shipments.
後911時代的突然轉變
Abrupt shift post-9/11
Invasive species have been sneaking into North America since Europeans arrived on the continent, and many got established long before 9/11.
But the abrupt shift in focus that followed the attacks caused a steep decline in agricultural inspections that allowed more pests to invade American farms and forests.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44841097/ns/us_news-security/
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