Veterinarians play a vital role in animal health emergency responses, and many opportunities exist for involvement. Whether treating animals in the aftermath of a natural disaster or conducting surveillance for a foreign animal disease—veterinarians are important.
Depending on your interest and expertise, you could support relief efforts at the local, State, or Federal level. In extreme circumstances, veterinarians may even be recruited to assist internationally, as was the case with the United Kingdom’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in 2001.
The beginning portion of this module describes various organizations and agencies veterinarians can work with to assist in animal health emergency response. Personal experiences of veterinarians who have previously participated in these activities are also included.
The NVAP Reference Guide also has information about Animal Health Emergency Response, Chapter 6. available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/
vet_accreditation/downloads/nvap_ref_guide.pdf
Center for Food Security and Public Health