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wildlife for the exotic wildlife trade, previously controlled or <br />eradicated diseases have surfaced. Health officials closely <br />monitor this potential threat to the public health. The emphasis <br />upon preventive medical measures such as school inoculation, <br />pet licensing, rodent/insect eradication, water purification, <br />sanitary waste disposal, health inspections, and public health <br />education mitigate this potential disaster. <br />Another potential threat to south Florida's population is food <br />contamination. Frequent news stories document that E. coli <br />and botulism breakouts throughout the country are not that <br />uncommon. Most recently, millions of pounds of possibly <br />contaminated beef from the Hudson packing plant were seized <br />by the Department of Agriculture and destroyed. <br />Extent. Due to the low probability of occurrence, this hazard <br />will not be fully profiled. <br />Because epidemics are hazards that are not bounded by <br />geographic or topographic characteristics, there are no definite <br />means to determine whether or not the extent of this hazard <br />differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction within Indian River <br />County. <br />Vulnerability Assessment. Florida is more vulnerable than <br />many other states to possible outbreaks of infectious diseases <br />due to the large number of international and U.S. tourists it <br />attracts. The number of illegal immigrants reaching U.S. <br />shores also increases vulnerability to disease hazards. Indian <br />River County's vulnerability to epidemic outbreaks is <br />considered relatively low when assessed against other Florida <br />counties, primarily because its population is lower and it is not <br />a key destination for illegal immigration. Medical facilities are <br />adequate for current need, but would be stressed if forced to <br />deal with a major disease outbreak. <br />t. Tsunamis — Hazard Identification. A tsunami is a series of <br />waves created when a body of water, such as in an ocean, is <br />rapidly displaced. A tsunami has a much smaller amplitude <br />(wave height) offshore, and a very long wavelength (often <br />hundreds of kilometers long), which is why they generally pass <br />unnoticed at sea, forming only a passing "hump" in the ocean. <br />Tsunamis have been historically referred to as tidal waves <br />because as they approach land, they take on the <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 61 <br />