Overview of FMD Surveillance
and Control in the United States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting U.S. livestock resources from the introduction of foreign pests and diseases that would harm U.S. livestock and devastate the U.S. livestock industry. The USDA/APHIS works to keep the nation’s livestock healthy and the livestock industry sound by conducting pest and disease exclusion, detection, eradication, and through educational activities. The recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in South America, Europe, and other areas of the world have emphasized the importance of APHIS' animal health safeguarding activities. These activities are critical to keeping FMD and other foreign animal diseases out of the United States. Overviews of U.S. activities in regards to control, surveillance, and education of foreign animal diseases, like FMD, can be found at the following locations:
USDA
Protecting
America From Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Highly Contagious Livestock
Diseases
USDA Safeguarding Measures Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease