The names, though often strange and exotic – rinderpest, bluetongue, babesiosis, akabane, getah, and jembrana – are becoming better known among veterinarians. Veterinarians, after all, form the first line of defense against these and other foreign animal diseases that may potentially threaten America.
The last two decades have witnessed massive changes in animal health issues at the global, national and local level. The threat of an FAD incursion looms larger than ever due to the significant increases of animal production in developing nations with weak veterinary and public health infrastructures, and an explosion in global agricultural exports (increasing 23 percent from 2000 to 2005).
Because of these and other developments, U.S. agricultural agencies and disease surveillance systems are on high alert for encroachment on American shores of animal diseases that could prove devastating to livestock, equine, and poultry industries – diseases often first picked up by local veterinarians responding to a client’s call.
To help veterinarians develop their skills as first responders, the Animal Population Health Institute at Colorado State University and the Colorado Department of Agriculture presented the 6th Annual Foreign Animal Disease Training Course, July 26-30, at the Diagnostic Medicine Center in Fort Collins. During the course, veterinarians, veterinary students and allied animal health personnel learned about current trends in FADs, specific responses in case of an outbreak, zoonotic transboundary diseases, and participated in hands-on laboratory exercises.
The Animal Population Health Institute works to improve the health of animal populations, to prevent and control infectious and other important diseases of animals, and to contribute to national and international animal disease policymaking processes by providing a better understanding of disease epidemiology and pathogenesis.
Visit the Foreign Animal Disease Training Course to read more articles featuring speakers from the course sections.
