The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), along with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), recently completed two National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) foreign animal disease scenario tabletop exercises. The agencies discussed how to properly implement biosafety measures and testing procedures in the event of a suspect foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

TVMDL works directly with the NAHLN if a foreign animal disease, such as FMD, is suspected.

The TAHC would respond by sending a foreign animal disease diagnostician to collect samples from the suspect animal. Thediagnosticianwill collect duplicate samples and send one set to the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) at Plum Island, New York. The other set will be sent to TVMDL for screening.

If FADDL confirms the presence ofa foreign animal disease, the NAHLN would “activate” TVMDL as part of the diagnostic network to share in the diagnostic caseload. TVMDL diagnosticians, veterinarians and technicians would be required to handle the samples in a state-of-the-art, biosafety-level-3 laboratory.

If the samples are negative for a foreign animal disease, TVMDL can then proceed to test for other diseases commonly found in the U.S. that mimic foreign animal diseases.

Discussing the steps, supplies and procedures necessary in the event of a disease outbreak is important. With more than 11 million head of cattle in Texas, the impact of a disease such as FMD could be devastating.

FMD spreads quickly and could infect a substantial number of animals in a short time period. During an outbreak, TVMDL will play a critical role in diagnosing positive animals and verifying healthy animals. Performing these tests with expediency is critical, as the impact of such an outbreak has local, state, national and international economic, food supply and trade implications.

The exercises are utilized by TVMDL to keep up-to-date on procedures to ensure safe, efficient and accurate receiving, testing and reporting procedures in the event of a disease outbreak.

TAHC assistant executive director over animal health programs, T.R. Landsford joined TVMDL Executive Deputy Director Bruce Akey and TVMDL leadership for the exercise in College Station. A duplicate tabletop exercise was conducted at TVMDL’s laboratory location in Amarillo in early July. PD

—From Texas A&M news release