What Are We Doing To Prevent Entry of Potentially Catastrophic Foreign Animal Diseases Into The USA

What are Foreign Animal Diseases? By definition, a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) is one which originates in another country and can, or does, enter the USA. An agency of our federal government, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is charged with responsibility for preventing entry of FADs into our country and is especially vigilant regarding those FADs which would have potentially catastrophic effects on farm-animal populations, the agricultural economy and/or the public (human) health. Activities of APHIS specifically related to FADs include (USDA/APHIS, 2001): (a) Guarding our borders against foreign agricultural pests and diseases through activities at U.S. ports and overseas in foreign countries. (b) Detecting and monitoring animal and plant diseases in this country. (c) Carrying out emergency operations if foreign pests or diseases get past our border defenses