Animal Disease Response Training
Introduction
August 2010
AWR 206-1
Animal Disease Response Training
Scope Statement
• The participant will gain an appreciation for the
vulnerability of U.S. agriculture to animal disease
threats, be introduced to the factors that trigger
response efforts, and understand the important
role of responders in an agricultural emergency
and gain appreciation for the role of unified
command. This lesson will also address
continuity of business and issues of traumatic
stress.
1
Animal Disease Response Training
Terminal Learning Objective
• Review the elements of an animal disease
emergency and understand the critical role
of responders.
Animal Disease Response Training
Enabling Learning Objectives
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1-5
Define agriculture emergency and recognize
vulnerabilities of agriculture systems.
Identify the various groups, authorities, and jurisdictions
that will play major roles in a foreign animal disease
event.
Identify the steps to determine the presence of disease,
process of diagnostics and surveillance, and the need for
deployment of personnel.
Discuss the importance of continuity of business
planning within a control zone.
Define traumatic stress as it relates to a foreign animal
disease response.
Animal Disease Response Training
What is an Agriculture Emergency?
• Any event that jeopardizes
the economic stability of any
portion or segment of the
agriculture or agribusiness
industry.
– Pre and Post Harvest
• Naturally occurring
• Intentional introduction
– CBRNE
Animal Disease Response Training
Understanding the Targets
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Transportation systems
Water supplies
Grain elevators
Producers, farmers, farm workers
Restaurants and food handlers
Grocery stores
Food and agriculture research labs
Packing and processing facilities
Animal Disease Response Training
Introduction of Disease
Unintentional threats
• Natural
• Point of origin is unknown
• West Nile, Chronic Wasting Disease
• Accidental
• Known point of origin
– Contamination of feed
– Improper processing
Animal Disease Response Training
Introduction of Disease
Intentional introduction
• Criminal
• Act of Terrorism (AgroTerrorism)
• Targets economy
Animal Disease Response Training
Vulnerability
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Geographical dispersion and concentration
Comingled products from many sources
Consolidation of agribusinesses
Extensive movement of animals
Inadequate biosecurity
Animal Disease Response Training
Susceptibility
Animal diseases make good terrorism agents
• rapidly spread
• spread facilitated by wildlife
or humans
• difficult to kill and persist in
environment
• difficult to trace, go undetected
for long periods
• global sources exist and easily
accessible
Animal Disease Response Training
Achievability
• Motivation
• Opportunity
• Technical Ability
• Goal
• Willingness to utilize
biological weapons
Animal Disease Response Training
Transmissible Animal Diseases
Zoonotic
• Transmitted from animals to
humans
• Represent source of
emerging infectious disease
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Avian Influenza
Brucellosis
Tularemia
Rabies
Lassa fever
Listeriosis
West Nile virus
Trichinosis
Swine Flu
Lyme Disease
Vesicular stomatitis
Animal Disease Response Training
Transmissible Animal Diseases
Zoonotic diseases can
spread through:
• Direct contact
• Drinking water containing
parasites
• Eating raw or contaminated
animal products
• Insect vectors
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Primates
Cats
Dogs
Pigs
Horses
Cattle
Rodents
Rabbits
Bats
Animal Disease Response Training
Transmissible Animal Diseases
Non-zoonotic
• Non-infectious to humans
• Humans may still transmit
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Foot and mouth disease
African swine fever
Rinderpest
Hog cholera
Vesicular exanthema
Bovine
Pleuropneumonia
Animal Disease Response Training
Routes of Transmission
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Direct Contact
Ingestion
Airborne
Fomites
Vectors
Animal Disease Response Training
Laboratory Diagnostics and Disease Surveillance
Diagnosis
• Requires organism isolation in lab
• Poultry
– tracheal or cloacal swab
• Livestock
– blood or secretions
Laboratory Confirmation
• Only federal lab can confirm
• Plum Island (FMD)
• NVSL (Avian Influenza)
Animal Disease Response Training
Laboratory Diagnostics and Disease Surveillance
Surveillance
• USDA both domestic
and international roles
• Domestic prevention
efforts
• Collaboration with
USAID and HHS for
avian influenza H5
and H7
Animal Disease Response Training
Vaccination in an Animal Disease
Outbreak
• Dependent upon state and federal
epidemiological assessment and
managed by USDA/APHIS
Animal Disease Response Training
Vaccination Assessment
• Probability of disease containment
• Proximity of high value animal agriculture
• Threat to valuable, rare or endangered nondomestic
species
• Density of animals at risk
• Extent to which wildlife is involved
• Availability of staff to carry out vaccination efforts
• Public opinion
• Potential for zoonotic infection
• Impact on export markets
• Economic impact of failing to control the disease
Animal Disease Response Training
National Veterinary Stockpile
• Provides equipment, field
tests, vaccines and other
support services that states
need in response to an
animal disease outbreak.
Animal Disease Response Training
Animal Health Response Agencies
• Informs governments about
diseases worldwide and
recommends means of
control
• Coordinates international
disease surveillance and
control
• Coordinates regulations for
international trade in animals
and animal products
Animal Disease Response Training
Animal Health Response Agencies
Protect and promote the growth of U.S. agriculture
• Addresses animal and plant disease events
– Border inspections
– Animal import testing
– Training for foreign animal disease detection
• Protect, detect, contain, control disease
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Wildlife Services
NAHERC
FADD
AVIC
Animal Disease Response Training
State Animal Health
Response Agencies
Department of Agriculture or Board of Animal Health
• State Veterinarian
• Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians (FADD)
Oversight of animal health related activities
• Surveillance
• Quarantine
• Movement permits
• Disease investigation
• Licensing or registration
Animal Disease Response Training
Integrated Response
ICS/Unified Command
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Overall management of incident
Directs activities
Releases resources
Implementation of strategies
Animal Disease Response Training
ICS Structure
Animal Disease Response Training
Reaching a Diagnosis
• Local producer or veterinarian notices problem
• Notification of state or federal animal health authorities
• Field sample collection by a Foreign Animal Disease
Diagnostician (FADD)
• Diagnosis confirmed by a federal laboratory
– Plum Island for Foot and Mouth disease
– NVSL for Avian Influenzas
• National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)
– Responds to overflow and additional confirmations
Animal Disease Response Training
Case Classification
– Suspect
• Animals with clinical signs of
disease
– Presumptive Positive
• Animals with clinical signs
and positive initial testing
• Quarantine of premises,
surveillance and biosecurity
measures will be
implemented immediately
Animal Disease Response Training
Case Classification
• Confirmed Positive
– Animals with clinical signs and
isolation and identification at a
USDA laboratory
• FADDL – Plum Island
• NVSL – Ames, Iowa
Animal Disease Response Training
Economic Impact
• Production losses
• Overall response effort costs
• Loss of animals and genetics
• Loss of international trade,
exporting barriers
Animal Disease Response Training
Economic Impact
• Lost income for farmers,
producers
• Movement restrictions impacting
tourism, hunting
• Higher prices for consumer
commodities
• Economic losses to local
businesses via reduction in
consumer spending
Animal Disease Response Training
What is Continuity of Business?
• Goal of eradicating disease may be contrary to continuity
of operations on nearby farms
• Return to business-as-usual will prove to be challenging
• Some priorities may be resolved prior to outbreak
– Raise awareness
– Establish policies
– Develop plans
– Identify resources
Animal Disease Response Training
Stress Factors
• Individuals may feel overwhelmed and suffer
deficits in:
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Cognitive abilities
Emotional stability
Physical well-being
Spiritual functioning
Relationships
Animal Disease Response Training
What Steps Can Help Manage Stress?
• Self examination
• Mental attitude of self care
• Knowing what types of incidents and sensory
experiences trigger emotional response
 Smells
 Sounds
 Sights
 Feelings
Animal Disease Response Training
Summary
• Our agriculture system is vulnerable to animal
disease.
• Many groups participate in response to an
agriculture emergency.
• Important to understand the steps necessary to
determine the presence of disease.
• Continuity of business is essential to maintain.
• Economic and emotional stress imposed on
producers and communities.