Foreign Animal Disease Training

Homeland Security Grants to States and Tribal Lands

New Directions for the National Veterinary Accreditation Program

Partnerships with States and Industry

National Animal Identification System

Construction of the Miami Animal Import Center

New York Animal Import Center

National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps

BSE Harvard Risk Assessment

Cattle Tick Program

CVB: Ensuring the Availability of Quality Products

National Veterinary Services Laboratory Exclusion Testing

Partnerships with States and Industry

In recent years, VS has emphasized partnerships with States, industry, and other Federal agencies because of the important role these partnerships play in a comprehensive animal health infrastructure.

To foster these relationships, VS works on a daily basis with its cooperators to enhance disease program surveillance, further develop methods of communication, improve biosecurity measures, and increase emergency preparedness.

As a means to regularly communicate with States and share information on general emergency preparedness, VS routinely participates in weekly NASDA-coordinated conference calls with State agriculture commissioners and VS field personnel. These calls, begun in the spring of 2000, keep State agricultural commissioners up-to-date with the latest issues and information.

VS cooperates with the States, industry, and other Federal agencies to develop and implement disease management plans for such diseases as bovine TB, pseudorabies, CWD, Johnes, brucellosis, scrapie, EIA, and EVA. Together, VS and its partners are working to rid the animal industry of domestic animal disease.

In FY 2002, VS distributed nearly $2 million in grants to 32 States to bolster emergency animal disease prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery systems. These funds were used for training, purchasing equipment, and conducting exercises to simulate animal health emergencies. The goal of the grant program is to assist States in meeting and exceeding animal disease response standards set by a steering committee of the NAHEMS.

VS continues to distribute notices throughout agricultural livestock communities to ensure heightened vigilance for foreign animal diseases to urge veterinarians to consider every foreign animal disease investigation with increased and knowledgeable diligence.

VS emphasizes to its field personnel the importance of communications at the local level about effective biosecurity measures to prevent pest and disease outbreaks. Among other things, VS' field personnel have provided biosecurity outreach materials and made numerous presentations to other Federal entities, State personnel, private veterinary practitioners, and industry groups. VS has also made sure that Native American tribes are part of the continuum of people who need to be on the alert and engaged in emergency preparedness; indeed, VS has met with 103 Native American tribes and has provided six emergency preparedness grants to Native American tribes for foreign animal disease awareness and education.

VS personnel participate in a Technical Support Working Group, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, which is helping to provide funding and technical expertise to develop tools related to biosecurity preparedness and response, including biohazard protections for workers. This group developed, and VS has distributed to all Federal area veterinarians-in-charge and plant health directors, a CD-Rom of potential bioterrorist plant and animal agents. The CD details where the agents can be found, how they spread, preventative and protective measures, and other information.

In FY 2002, VS held FAD Training Seminars for Federal-State veterinarians in Orlando, FL, from February 26 through March 6. VS initiated this series of courses specifically as a result of the September 11, 2001, attacks and the need for Federal and State animal health managers to be prepared for both accidental and intentional introductions of foreign animal diseases. The 2-week course, a first of its kind, brought the VS area veterinarian-in-charge of each State and their State veterinarian counterparts together for the purpose of improving communication and strengthening cooperative partnerships, particularly regarding emergency response. Representatives from VS' Eastern and Western regions were invited to participate simultaneously due to the likely possibility that an intentional introduction would not be limited to one specific part of the country. Speakers included representatives from the Department of Justice, USDA's Forest Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Office of the Inspector General, and faculty from veterinary schools around the country.