• The Interagency Coordination Staff plans, organizes, and leads efforts to support and improve the response preparedness and coordinates and creates partnerships with other Federal, State, and local entities to strengthen early detection and rapid response capabilities at all levels.


• The Preparedness and Response Staff develops and disseminates emergency response guidelines based on NIMS and the Incident Command for responding effectively and efficiently to a foreign animal disease or pest, and ensures that guidelines are current, flexible to change, and adaptable to any disease or animal pest situation. We coordinate investigations and disseminate information about suspected outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.
  
• The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) staff operate the nation’s repository of vaccines, personnel protective equipment, and other critical veterinary supplies, equipment, and services for augmenting within 24-hours State and local resources in the fight against dangerous animal diseases. The NVS has two primary goals. By 2011, it will acquire countermeasures against the first 10 of the 17 worst disease threats including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Rift Valley Fever, Exotic Newcastle Disease, and Classical Swine Fever. By 2016, it will acquire countermeasures against all 17 disease threats.

• Augment state and local resources with critical veterinary supplies, equipment, and services;
• Provide safety emphasis and leadership;
• Provide national guidance on disease surveillance and eradication strategy;
• Support the acquisition of resources;
• Resolve administrative, financial, legal, legislative, and disease control issues; and
• Coordinate and disseminate information.

1. Coordinate the eradication activities during animal disease emergencies.
2. Develop and maintain liaison with other USDA agencies, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Service (EPA), and similar regulatory groups providing assistance in disease control efforts.
3. Coordinate computer modeling and analytical studies relative to the spread of foreign animal diseases through international shipments of animals, animal products, by-products, or other methods.
4. Initiate work plans for regulations necessary to respond to introduction of foreign animal diseases.
5. Represent APHIS in various emergency preparedness activities and national security matters (chemical, biological, or radiological).
6. Develop and maintain a technical reference center concerning domestic and foreign animal diseases.
7. Provide technical information on animal health conditions to VS personnel, Federal and State agencies, industry, and the public.
8. Organize and maintain emergency response guidelines in a state of readiness within the NIMS framework to promptly respond to outbreaks of foreign diseases of animals.
9. Maintains logistical support for emergency disease outbreaks (e.g., North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, National Veterinary Stockpile).

Contact Us:
4700 River Road, Unit 41
Riverdale, MD 20737
301-734-8073 7:30am-5:00pm ET
Toll Free: 800-940-6524
FAX: 301-734-7817