Security precautions safeguarding agriculture have received attention with the recent avian influenza, but biosecurity is also used to help prevent more common diseases, according to experts.

Biosecurity is an umbrella term born from 2001's foot -and-mouth disease in cattle, and now is an issue of major concern regarding avian influenza, said Robert Van Saun, extension veterinarian and associate professor in the veterinary sciences department.

The goal of biosecurity is to prevent and contain the spread of disease, viruses or bacteria.

It complements related work researchers at Penn State conduct, from collaborating with farmers on simple procedures to curb contamination, to developing rapid avian flu diagnostic tests.

Biosecurity is important to keep animals healthy because Pennsylvania feeds the northeast part of America, Eva Pendleton, a senior research associate said, "we have a lot to protect here."

Pendleton works with avian flu. She is one of two avian vets at Penn State who go out to farms and investigate sick birds, and she is also giving a series of talks on biosecurity across the nation.

Pendleton and other Penn State researchers worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Pennslyvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), local police and others set up a scenario to determine how to execute the many facets of disease control like quarantine, human health, animal health, and how the disease might spread.

"I think it's good they do this planning," she said. "If bird flu did come to the U.S. and got into poultry, it would probably be picked up in a diagnostic lab like this."

However, although bird flu seems to be a growing fear in Americans, the scope of work done at Penn State is much broader and deals with many different issues, which affect the agricultural industry.

"The media catches on to stories like avian influenza," Jason Brooks, senior project associate in the veterinary science department said.

He added many other things the department is involved in get overlooked.

"From our work here at Penn State ... our biggest concern is people dealing with everyday issues," Van Saun said. "The biggest issue of course is the animal health and performance."

He added that he doesn't want to worry too much about looming issues that aren't a great risk and miss ones that can actually cause harm to birds, cattle or any kind of farm raised animal.

"We try and emphasize the mode of transmission of viruses," Dr. David Wolfgang, field studies director and senior research associate in the veterinary science department said. "If you focus on the mode of transmission, it makes this a win-win situation."

There are common viruses and bacteria that need to be protected against, he added.

Although protection from viruses like avian flu is important, if the less harmful illnesses can be stopped, so can the larger ones, Wolfgang said.

"Doesn't it make more sense to do it that way?" he added.

Focusing on the transmission of viruses assists in the prevention of all viruses, not only specific strains.

"Prevention is a lot easier than trying to medicate your way out of it," Pendleton said.

Van Saun said despite public concerns based on bioterrorism and epidemics, a majority of the biosecurity concerns continue to be a matter of everyday precautions.

Sanitation and good health practices are also crucial to biosecurity.

Van Saun added that he will continue to do extension and outreach to dairy farmers and preach sanitation and diagnostics as methods of prevention.