The Illinois Department of Agriculture was pleased to host the National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) and Multi-State Partnership Foot-and-Mouth Disease Logistics Exercise this month.

The exercise was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Services (USDA APHIS-VS), NVS, and the Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture (MSPSA).

The purpose of the logistical exercise was to test and evaluate APHIS VS Emergency Management and Diagnostics (EM&D) and participating states’ emergency logistical response actions related to an FMD outbreak. The three day training included a table top exercise that discussed the logistical components of emergency response at all levels in the event of an FMD outbreak.

“This exercise gave us along with our counterparts at the state and federal levels the opportunity to test our emergency livestock disease response methods and learn from one another,” said Illinois Ag Director, Tom Jennings. “This gave us the opportunity to collaborate with other states, and make sure there was no duplication of efforts in order to develop a more coordinated, comprehensive response to an emergency livestock disease event. We believe this was a very successful training.”

Following the two day table-top portion of the exercise, a full-scale exercise, which simulated emergency logistical response to a widespread FMD outbreak, was also held and highlighted the role of the NVS as a responding organization. The NVS is a national repository of critical veterinary supplies, equipment, vaccine and services needed by first responders to an animal disease outbreak. In the event of an animal disease outbreak, the necessary supplies would be shipped to a central location and then redeployed to the affected area. During training, participants unloaded the supplies, ran inventory and simulated redeployment.

“The NVS full scale exercise gave each group a chance to test their emergency response methods and evaluate their ability to get vital assistance out to effected areas in a timely manner, said Director Jennings. “All groups agreed that the deployment exercise was a great learning tool and we will use the lessons learned to improve our NVS response plans. We feel confident that we will be able to respond adequately to an animal disease emergency.”

This training included 120 participants representing U.S.D.A., Canada, the National Veterinary Stockpile, and The Multi-State Partnership for Security in Agriculture (MSPSA).

The MSPSA includes State Departments of Agriculture, State Veterinarian’s Offices, Homeland Security Advisors, Animal Health Departments and Emergency Management Divisions from the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Kunkle, 217-785-4740
Illinois Department of Agriculture