CDFA > AHFSS > EPSU > Animal Disease Disaster Information

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Disaster Types – Animal Diseases

Guides

General
Local
State
Federal

Recovery

Tools

Training

Resources

Articles

Websites

Brochures & Fliers

Two important potential emergencies are Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI), or “bird flu,” and Foot–and–Mouth Disease (FMD). HPAI is an extremely infectious and fatal form of the bird flu for chickens. FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. Should an outbreak of either occur, the federal government (USDA & others) will collaborate with State government (CDFA & others) and local jurisdictions & organizations to respond appropriately. National emergency response objectives and plans for these two diseases have been revised to provide specific: guidelines, actions, timelines, and checklists to help Federal, State and local responders in the event of an outbreak.

Guides

General

Agroterrorism Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002: Final Rule; delay of compliance date The compliance date for entities that are newly required to register is extended to July 13, 2009.

Bioterrorism Act of 2002 Mandates that all members of the food chain must be able to trace goods one step forward, and one step backward, as well as know the shipper/transporter of the goods.

The Reportable Animal Diseases List The Office International des Epizooties (OIE), also known as the World Organization for Animal Health, has categorized 15 animal diseases as List “A” Diseases (those considered the most serious globally). These diseases are also identified in the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. These agents could pose a severe threat to animal health, animal and human health, or animal products in the United States. In–depth descriptions and resources are available for the diseases listed below, with similar material for remaining diseases forthcoming.

Local

Animal Disease Outbreak Emergency Management Tools (USDA APHIS)

Avian Influenza: Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) is primarily a bird disease particular to domestic poultry, although it can infect most other domestic and wild birds. It is only one of several types of influenza viruses that infect birds. There is no evidence of HPAI H5N1 in North America. However, it could eventually arrive via migratory wild birds, illegal importation of infected poultry, from captive exotic birds, from infected travelers, or from their contaminated belongings entering California on direct flights from regions where the HPAI H5N1 virus is prevalent.

Scenario–Based State Agency Review: Public Health Considerations for Detection of Avian Influenza in Birds (HPAI H5N1) 3.2007 (CDFA) – Describes multi–agency planning considerations – and current thinking on human health consequences – should H5N1 be detected in any bird species in California. This should serve as a reference for local governments should California experience an avian influenza outbreak. guidance (PDF)
HPAI Response Guidance (USDA AH National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management) – Contains active links. HPAI Response Plan 8.2007 (USDA APHIS VS EMD)

Transportation Research Board (TRB) – National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP):

A Guide to Emergency Quarantine and Isolation Controls of Roads in Rural Areas 130 (TRB NCHRP) Reviews several state emergency response plans associated with traffic control of rural roads in an agricultural emergency
A Guide to Traffic Control of Rural Roads in an Agricultural Emergency 525 (TRB NCHRP) Recommended practices and procedures associated with traffic control on local and state roads during agricultural emergencies. Examines three levels of traffic control based on the type of disease, and the location of the traffic control point(s).

State

Animal Diseases (CDFA)

Veterinary Public Health Section (CDPH VPHS)

Federal

Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Response Executive Overview (CDFA, rev 1.2006)

Mobilization Plan for Emergency Animal Disease of Livestock (CDFA rev 1.2006)(PDF 224 KB)

National Emergency Response to a Highly Contagious Animal Disease 3.30.01 (USDA–APHIS)

North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza 8.2007 (SPPNA.pdf) Outlines how Canada, Mexico and the United States intend to work together to combat an outbreak of avian influenza or an influenza pandemic in North America. The Plan complements national emergency management plans and builds upon the core principles of the international Partnership on Avian and Pandemic influenza, the standards and guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO)-including the revised International Health Regulations, as well as the rules and provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Summary of the National Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Response Plan DRAFT 8.2007 .pdf (USDA-APHIS) Replaces version of August 2006. Avian influenza (AI) is a viral infection of birds caused by a group of viruses known as type A influenza. AI viruses are classified as either highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) or low pathogenic AI (LPAI), based on the genetic features of the virus and the severity of disease in poultry. While most AI viruses are LPAI and usually result in mild or asymptomatic infections, HPAI viruses are associated with very high morbidity and mortality rates in poultry, up to 90 to 100 percent. Of primary concern is H5N1, a type of AI virus that has mutated into dozens of highly pathogenic varieties and has infected humans. This particularly virulent strain of AI emerged in Asia in late 2003. In addition to poultry, mortality from H5N1 has been reported in nearly 60 wild bird species worldwide. While there are no reported cases of humans becoming infected from migratory birds, humans have been infected through contact with domestic poultry or poultry products. To date H5N1 has not been detected in North America.

Recovery

Protect Yourself from Animal– and Insect–Related Hazards After a Disaster

Tools

Animal Disease Outbreak Emergency Management Tools (USDA–APHIS) – To ensure that all responders have the resources they need in an emergency, USDA APHIS has developed some Web tools that provide critical emergency management resources in a user–friendly design. Responders who visit the site will get assistance in determining the most appropriate actions to safely and effectively manage an outbreak. The site provides a number of emergency management tools, including information on countermeasures, modeling, and carcass disposal, decontamination and depopulation. This site also includes information on health and safety for those working the emergency. A brief tutorial helps visitors navigate the site and learn about available resources. For more information about the site, phone 301–734–4917 or email lori.p.miller@aphis.usda.gov

Assessing Feasibility of Using Nanotechnology Test to Detect Anthrax Following a Bioterrorist Attack 3.17.2009 (FDA) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has completed a "proof–of–concept" study of a test that quickly and accurately detects the presence of even the smallest amount of the deadly anthrax toxin.

Foot–&–Mouth Disease Online Media Kit (UC ANR)

Disease Diagnosis

Quarantine

Traceability

Training

In the event of a large–scale foreign animal disease outbreak, many people at Federal and State levels will be called upon to provide assistance. While many of these responders will be veterinarians or animal health technicians, they may not have experience with mass depopulation and carcass disposal. In addition some responders may have no animal health expertise.

Avian Influenza Training: Avian Flu School (International) (UCD) The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) currently represents an international animal health emergency. The virus is carried and spread by wild and domestic birds, and is devastating to poultry flocks of large through small producers. The Avian Flu School (AFS), a Global Livestock CRSP project developed by the Wildlife Health Center and Cooperative Extension of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is an international train–the–trainer program. The National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defence (FAZD) co–sponsored the AFS curriculum development.

Avian Flu School: A Training Approach to Prepare for H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (article)

Decontamination – Describes decontamination methods and equipment, and identifies basic principles, standards and regulations for decontamination operations.

Disease Surveillance – Defines traditional and syndromic surveillance methods and explains how disease outbreaks are detected and investigated

Foreign Animal Disease Training Videos (USDA APHIS)

Foreign Animal & Emerging Diseases Course (2009) – A weeklong interdisciplinary training course on Foreign Animal and Emerging Diseases (FAED) scheduled for Spring 2009. Includes international experts as well as researchers from Plum Island Animal Disease Center.

Brochure (2007)

Isolation & Quarantine – Examines the concepts and history of isolation and quarantine, and explains when and how these restrictions are used in a public health context.

Personal Protective Equipment – Explains the hierarchy of controls to manage hazards; describes various types of personal protective equipment (PPE), and outlines standards and programs for proper use.

Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)

CON–ED Anthrax
CON–ED Avian Influenza
CON–ED Botulism
CON–ED Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Zoonoses – Describes the types and transmission of zoonotic diseases, identifies zoonoses of public health significance, and outlines general principles and procedures for surveillance and emergency preparedness.

Presentations

Biosecurity, Zoonoses, and FADs – A powerpoint on basic principles of disease, foreign animal disease control, biosecurity, and disease prevention.

EIDs and FADs: Challenges for the 21st Century – This is a presentation covering emerging infectious diseases and foreign animal diseases. It discusses the different types of the diseases and what causes/leads to an outbreak of the disease.

What in the Devil are Foreign Animal Diseases? – A powerpoint presentation answering questions about foreign animal diseases– what are they, where did they come from and where are they going?

Test Exercises (USDA APHIS)

Veterinary Services – Exercises

Resources

Animal Disease Risk Assessment, Prevention, & Control Act of 2001 (PL 107–9) Final Report 1.2003

FAO Reference Laboratories

Foreign Animal Diseases "The Gray Book" 6th ed. 10.30.06 (USAHA)

Articles

Economic_impacts_of_Foreign_animal_diseases

Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness 2006 (CRS)

Animal Health at the Crossroads: Preventing, Detecting, & Diagnosing Animal Diseases (2005)

Economic Impacts of Foreign Animal Disease (5.28.08) Summary – Model results show large trade–related losses for beef, beef cattle, hogs, and pork, even though relatively few animals are destroyed. The best control strategies prove to be those that reduce the duration of the outbreak.

Law Enforcements’ Role:

Legal authorities for isolation and quarantine (CDC) Isolation and quarantine are two common public health strategies designed to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected or potentially infected people.

National Center for Foreign Animal & Zoonotic Disease Defense:

Pet–Associated Zoonotic Diseases and Natural Disasters (PDF 3pp 72KB)
Protection from Waterborne Zoonotic Diseases (PDF 4pp 92KB)
Zoonotic Vector–borne Diseases and Natural Disasters (PDF 3pp 76KB)
More information about protection from zoonotic disease and responses to natural disasters is available on this site under Outreach/Fact Sheets and Information.

Websites

General:

AgPreparedness.org 1 of 14 DHS–funded centers nationwide developing agriculture security training & awareness initiatives.

Diseases – Animal (AgPreparednss.org) List of animal diseases and resources

Avian Influenza (A.I.):

Veterinary staff cotton-swabbing a hen's mouth

Avian Flu & Pandemic Flu (PandemicFlu.gov) Official U.S. government site managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Avian Influenza (FAO)
Avian Influenza (OIE)
Avian Influenza (WHO)
Avian Influenza Materials
Avian Influenza Resources (AgPreparedness.org)
Protecting Workers from Avian Influenza (CDC–NIOSH)
Update on Highly Pathogenic Influenza in Animals: Type H5 & H7 (OIE)
Avian Flu & Pandemic Flu (PandemicFlu.gov) Official U.S. government site managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

California State Public Health Veterinarian

California State Veterinarian

CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (U Minn) Provides a wide range of news on public health preparedness and emerging infectious disease response (Avian & Pandemic Influenza, Biosecurity, Bioterrorism, Food Safety, and other topics).

FAZD Center web site – National Center for Foreign Animal & Zoonotic Disease Defense

OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health)

Plum Island Animal Disease Center – USDA Lab that works to protect farm animals, farmers and ranchers, the nation's farm economy and export markets, and the overall food supply.

ProMED (International Society for Infectious Diseases) Global electronic reporting system for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases & toxins, open to all sources

Recalls (USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service) Information about food recalls and public health alerts that involve meat, poultry, or processed egg products.

USAHA (United States Animal Health Association)