Protecting America’s Exports 
While border inspection and participation in 
international standards-setting organiza- 
tions pay huge dividends in keeping disease 
out and allowing our producers to raise ani- 
mals in a disease-free environment, these 
efforts, along with emergency preparedness 
and surveillance activities, also enable the 
United States to capitalize on world export 
markets. APHIS is in the forefront in facili- 
tating the export of live animals and 
germplasm due to the agency’s ability to 
confidently certify the United States’ animal 
health status to foreign trading partners. 
To maintain the world’s confidence in the 
integrity of the health of U.S. animals and 
animal products, VS ensures that livestock 
headed to other countries meets the stan- 
dards required by those nations. Physical 
examinations and blood tests—usually done 
by USDA-accredited veterinarians —cover 
both U.S. export requirements and the fre- 
quently complex requirements of the receiv- 
ing nation. A VS veterinarian endorses 
export health certificates only after all tests 
and other requirements have been met. Then 
a final examination is conducted by a VS vet- 
erinarian at the port of export before the 
livestock or poultry leave the country. 
NCIE works closely with exporters who 
engage in trade with foreign nations. The 
International Regulation Retrieval System, a 
database maintained by VS, lists the animal 
health requirements of other countries. Both 
exporters and veterinarians can access this 
retrieval system on the Internet. 
Exporters realize that, if the United States 
were to become known for harboring a for- 
eign animal disease, other countries would 
be hesitant to accept U.S. commodities. That 
could be disastrous for the U.S. export indus- 
try, and efforts are in place to protect the 
integrity of U.S. exports. VS’ National Animal 
Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) collects 
information on the status of animal health in 
the United States. The program, which began 
in 1983, estimates the level of selected 
domestic diseases and also estimates pro- 
ducer awareness of foreign animal diseases. 
In addition, serums are collected and banked 
through NAHMS as a possible resource for 
determining the presence of new diseases. 
Additional efforts are being made to 
strengthen the systematic monitoring of ani- 
mal diseases at the State level. State veteri- 
narians already voluntarily submit monthly 
reports to OIE on the presence or absence of 
clinical diseases in their States, and then OIE 
informs governments worldwide on the exis- 
tence of animal diseases. 
In order to monitor an illness, however, one 
must first be able to identify its origin. The 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories 
(NVSL), with locations in Ames, IA, and 
Plum Island, NY, are especially valuable in 
this regard. For instance, in the fall of 1999, 
a mysterious illness appeared in birds, 
horses, and humans in upstate New York. 
Working with laboratory personnel from the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
personnel at NVSL quickly isolated the cause 
of the illness, which was soon identified as 
West Nile virus. This was the first appearance 
of West Nile virus in the Western 
Hemisphere. 
otecting Animal Health in 
al Environment 5 
