Animal Health 

 Emergency Management 



The strength and success of the U.S. agricultural economy is due in large part to 

 the bonds forged by Government, veterinarians, and producers in preventing, 

 controlling, and eradicating foreign animal diseases (FADs). In an era characterized 

 by unprecedented levels of international transportation and trade, the threats posed 

 by FADs (either accidentally or intentionally introduced) have never been greater. 



FADs can enter the United States accidentally through the importation of infected 

 animals or animal products. Such diseases can be carried inadvertently into our 

 country via contaminated clothing, shoes, or other objects. One or more diseases can 

 also be introduced as an act of terrorism. 



Once an FAD has taken hold, it may be very difficult to control and eradicate because 

 of high potential animal exposure resulting from high livestock concentrations and 

 numerous movements of market-bound animals. Pathogens spread by wildlife can 

 pose an additional serious problem. 



The unchecked spread of animal disease pathogens in agricultural environments 

 would have a disastrous impact on the U.S. economy. The failure of individual 

 farms would have a ripple effect on many segments of the U.S. economy, including 

 disruption of livestock marketing and trade. Other significant costs would be 

 incurred in the course of controlling the spread of disease pathogens by animal 

 depopulation, cleaning and disinfecting livestock environments, and disposing of 

 animal carcasses on a mass scale. Furthermore, all these activities generate concern 

 about the environment. 



Outbreaks of FADs in recent decades (including Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis 

 in Texas in 1971, exotic Newcastle disease in California in 1972 and 2002-03, high- 

 pathogenicity AI in 1983 and 1984, and foot-and-mouth disease in Taiwan in 1998 

 and the United Kingdom in 2001) have underscored our Nation's concern about the 

 dangers they pose to U.S. livestock and poultry populations. Our animal population 

 has no immunity to such diseases, which, if introduced, could cause potentially 

 catastrophic losses to the American animal industry and even threaten the availability 

 of the safe, wholesome, affordable, abundant food supply Americans currently enjoy. 



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