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portion of Indian River County is a major ranching area , and there are numerous nurseries <br /> and smaller agricultural - related businesses located throughout the County . <br /> 4. 1 . 11 . 6 Risk Assessment <br /> Because agricultural pests and diseases can have a significant impact on <br /> agricultural - related businesses , it is important to look at agricultural - related income to <br /> determine potential loss . In 2000 , Indian River County also produced 20 , 438 , 00 boxes of <br /> citrus . The State of Florida has the second highest tomato sales , bringing in 392 million in <br /> 1999 ( University of Florida , 2001 ) . The Fellsmere and Wabasso areas are major <br /> agribusiness centers . <br /> 4A A 2 Epidemics <br /> Infectious diseases emerging throughout history have included some of the most <br /> feared plagues of the past. New infections continue to emerge today , while many of the old <br /> plagues are still with us . As demonstrated by influenza epidemics , under suitable <br /> circumstances , a new infection first appearing anywhere in the world could travel across <br /> entire continents within days or weeks ( Morse , 1995 ) . Due to the potential of omplex health <br /> and medical conditions that can threaten the general population , Florida ' s vulnerability to an <br /> epidemic is continually being monitored . With millions of tourists arriving and departing the <br /> state annually , disease and disease exposure (airborne , vector, and ingestion ) are constantly <br /> evaluated and analyzed . <br /> Primarily as a result of the entrance of undocumented aliens into south Florida , <br /> *% r and the large number of small wildlife , previously controlled or eradicated diseases have <br /> surfaced . Health officials closely monitor this potential threat to the public health . The <br /> emphasis upon preventive medical measures such as school inoculation , pet licensing , <br /> rodent/insect eradication , water purification , sanitary waste disposal , health ing5pections , and <br /> public health education mitigate this potential disaster. <br /> Another potential threat to south Florida 's population is food contarnination . <br /> Frequent news stories document that E. coli and botulism breakouts throughout the country <br /> are not that uncommon . Most recently , millions of pounds of possibly contaminated beef <br /> from the Hudson packing plant were seized by the Department of Agriculture and destroyed . <br /> Best available data indicate that there have been no previous occurrences of <br /> epidemics in Indian River County or the municipalities . <br /> Because epidemics are hazards that are not bounded by geographic or <br /> topographic characteristics , there are no definite means to determine whether or not the <br /> extent of this hazard differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction within Indian River County . <br /> 4. 1 . 12. 1 Vulnerability Assessment <br /> Florida is more vulnerable than many other states to possible outbreaks of <br /> infectious diseases due to the large number of international and U . S . tourists i attracts . The <br /> number of illegal aliens reaching U . S . shores also increases vulnerability to disease hazards . <br /> Indian River County' s vulnerability to epidemic outbreaks is considered relatively low when <br /> ''`r assessed against other Florida counties , primarily because its population is lower and it is not <br /> 4-52 <br />