March 19, 2001

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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news

News
The lowdown on foot and mouth disease – Europe’s outbreak of foot and mouth disease is an ocean away, but Midwest farmers should still take precautions to keep the disease at bay. Cloven-hoofed animals are most susceptible to foot and mouth disease. The last reported outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United States was in 1929. However, in this age of global movement, the disease can spread rapidly, according to Gary Bowman, veterinary preventive medicine specialist at Ohio State University. “Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease," said Bowman. “Although it doesn’t affect humans, people can carry the virus in their upper respiratory tracts and spread it. It can even be carried aboard food served on airliners. Producers should employ all good biosecurity techniques, and restrict farm visits, especially from anyone who's recently been overseas.” Bowman and swine specialist Steve Moeller of OSU's Ohio Pork Industry Center say farmers should make sure visitors shower thoroughly and change clothes if they will have contact with animals. Contact: Gary Bowman, (614) 292-9453, or Steve Moeller, (614) 688-3686

Experts
Taking stock of the Wall Street plunge – The stock market is on a downhill slide. But Ohio State University research shows that over the long run, making steady, periodic contributions to a retirement account is still the best way to build a retirement nest egg. Sherman Hanna, a professor of financial management, has done a number of studies on long-term investment strategies for retirement accounts. Among his findings: if you have at least 20 years to invest before retirement, you’ll come out better by making steady contributions to relatively volatile small-stock funds. He has also found that about half of Americans won’t be able to keep up their standard of living after retirement because they are not saving and contributing to retirement accounts and other investments. Another study found that even though investment companies and financial professionals promise increased wealth and investment returns, most consumers are just as well off on their own.Contact: Sherman Hanna, College of Human Ecology, (614) 292-4584

Events
Promoting Polish democracy – March 19-23. Six Polish educators will attend meetings and visit area schools this week in an effort to promote democratic reforms in Poland. The educators – secondary school teachers from Warsaw – are here as part of CIVITAS: An International Civic Education Exchange Program. Professor Alden Craddock of the Mershon Center Civic Education Program at Ohio State leads the CIVITAS Exchange Program in Ohio. In addition to coordinating the visit of the Polish educators, the program also takes U.S. educators to Poland and develops teaching materials for classroom use here. The Polish teachers will visit Independence and Reynoldsburg High Schools, and attend meetings with Mayor Coleman’s Office of Education, the Ohio Department of Education, and the Ohio Coalition of Essential Schools. On Friday, they’ll attend a Teacher Education for Democracy Conference at the Mershon Center.Contact: Alden Craddock, Mershon Center, (614) 292-3810