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<li>Understand the importance of the role of the veterinary profession in preventing the incursion of exotic and emerging animal diseases (EEAD) and in detecting and responding to incursions of EEAD.</li>
<li>Understand the potential devastating impact of EEAD on animal welfare, the national economy, food production and human health</li>
<li>Appreciate the essential role of the OIE, Federal government, and State governments in responding to potential EEAD.</li>
<li>Have a clear understanding of how to contact the appropriate authorities when an EEAD is suspected.</li>
<li>Know the immediate measures to be taken to prevent the spread of a suspected EEAD until the State and/or Federal authorities can fully respond to the situation.</li>
<li>Be familiar with OIE reportable diseases and other animal diseases of premier importance to ongoing eradication programs or human health.</li>
<li>Know where to search for web-based or print materials with overview and in depth information about EEADs.</li>
<li>Know the salient features of BSE, FMD, screwworm, classical swine fever, avian influenza, and Newcastle disease.</li></ol>
Non-Technical Summary:The need to educate both veterinary students and veterinarians about foreign, emerging, and exotic diseases is increasingly recognized by federal and state agencies, the animal health industry and interested individuals. Use of this course, and the related educational materials, by the veterinary colleges is a unique opportunity to bring these concepts to the forefront of veterinary education and to better prepare the U.S. for potential disease outbreaks. This project is important because veterinary students need to know how to recognize and appropriately respond to EEAD outbreaks. Effective instruction will enable future veterinarians to be in a peak state of readiness for disease outbreaks. Early detection of these animal disease agents and rapid and effective response measures are essential for limiting the economic impact of these diseases.
Approach: <p>The approach to this project will be </p> <ol> <li>to promote the adoption and use of a course on foreign animal disease by veterinary collegs</li>
<li>update and improve the existing course</li>
<li>provide a set of resources on emerging and exotic diseases of animals to all graduating veterinary students in the US.