animalagriculture.org

Animal Health Emergency Management Committee Report
April 7, 2004

Added Speakers

Dr. Tom McGinn – DHS

Dr. Brian Noland – NORTHCOM

RESOLUTIONS

3 Re-affirmed

            Classical Swine Fever 

            National Animal Health Emergency Management System

            Foot and Mouth Disease

2 Amended

            Interstate movement of wild animals

            Funding for National Animal Health Centers

3 No action/passage

            Prevention of introduction of BSE

            Research in Support of Animal Health Emergency Management

            Communication Plan for Foreign Animal Disease Investigations

COMMITTEE REPORT

Ag ISAC – Georgia – Lee Meyers and Paul Williams

Concept - 2 way information sharing between industry and government. New concept to help respond better.

24 hour communication capability through Georgia Emergency Mgt.

Facilitates communication  between fed/s state and local and industry

Secure network for e-mail dialogue

Public information

Toll free line for ag emergencies

Primary focus on animal diseases and public health

Funded by state public health money – zoonoses and food safety

Managed by state emergency management communication division

Initial funding $120,000

Integrated with 911 and Health Alert Network

Fully activated by July 2004

Eventually integrate all ag emergencies

Seeking maintenance funding through DHS, USDA or DHHS

Ag ISAC concept was defined in Homeland Security Presidential Directive  as part of key infrastructure.

HSPD 9  calls for the defense of the US Ag and food industries, and includes sector specific agencies which will oversee Ag ISAC’s

Ag ISAC is example of partnerships necessary in Animal health emergency mgt – industry and state, local and national governments.

Keys are security, interoperability, and method for transmission of information both in and out.

Collection, Analysis and dissemination capability on a need to know basis.

Analytical support provided by state terrorism task force.

Everyone was instructed to go home and ask their emergency management officials the status of the AG ISAC in their state – this is a mandated program.

LT.  Col. Brian Noland  - NORTHCOM(ArmedForces) veterinarian (Speaker added)

NORTHCOM was formed after 9-11 to conduct operations to deter threats to North America and provide assistance for consequence management with civilians

Offered assistance at any time  with response or training questions.

Dr. Noland working specifically on support plans for Ag and Food security issues - Colorado

Webpage – www.northcom.mil

Beth Lautner – Plum Island Animal Disease Center

Gave overview of DHS structure and how Plum Island fits in.

Existing programs at Plum are to continue – challenge is to integrate with new partners, 1 of which is Fort Dietrich.

USDA and DHS has working group to ensure smooth integration

Additional by DHS to increase funding and research on Plum for both APHIS and ARS

Dr. Robert Foudraine – Vice-chair of National ID Committee

Overview of National ID Initiative

Goal to provide traceback capabilities for FAD investigations within 48 hours. This is driving all decisions.

NIAA was the founder and main supporter of the initiative

Standards for animal id’s and premise locations are first steps

Premise number will be 7 character alpha-numeric format

Management of prem id system will be by each state

Individual ID  recommendation is to develop a single national numbering system

Poultry and swine may use group or lot id’s instead of individual id’s

Will consist of group number and date of creation

USDA will be administrator of ID system

Discussed National and State repository concept.

Next step is to monitor allocation of id’s to specific premises.

4 pieces of tracking record - event type, prem id, event date, animal id #

Last step – tracking movement

Species groups currently developing timelines, preferred methods, id device distribution and preferred methods of data distribution. Issue based groups will also be developed.

Dr. Sebastian Heath – USDA/VS/EP

Discussed policy frameworks for federal emergency management:

USDA/VS Departmental issues – yearly regulation 1800-01 comes

Animal Health Protection Act part of Farm Bill

HSPD 5 – says use ICS for emergency response - created National Incident Mgt. System

HSPD 7 – says DHS has the lead in coordinating emergency preparedness and response

HSPD 8 – says Federal govt. will use NIMS and provide assistance for all hazards at the state and local level

HSPD 9 – Declared Ag as critical infrastructure and mandated national policy to defend Ag

National Response plan mandated post 9-11, in place by July ’04 will create Emergency Support Function 11 for food and agriculture, with components for food, livestock and crops

Veterinary Services is trying to reduce costs to tax payers  by delivery of information, and ensure that field operations are compatible with standards

VS/Emergency Programs is now called Emergency Management

Area Emergency Coordinators – 14 hired in US – eventually all states will have one

2 functions – planning for capacity building within the states, and provide support and logistics as liaison during emergencies. Must be engaged at state level.

Barb Martin – NVSL

Discussed the National Animal Health Lab Network – development,  components, and linkage with other government systems

50 animal health region concept is goal – lab in every state.

Real time PCR validation for 7 FAD’s is underway – ASF, FMD, VSV, CSFV, Rinderpest, Lumpy skin, CBPP

2 people from each of the regional laboratories were trained on PCR technology for FAD’s

Tom McGinn – DHS

Led discussion on DHS’ perspective on how to facilitate implementation of HSPD 9