As Nation Watches Coronavirus, USDA Prepares for FMD

WASHINGTON, DC – USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently announced the first purchase of a vaccine for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, with an investment of $27.1 million for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine.

The vaccine would be used in the event of an FMD outbreak to protect animals and help stop the spread of disease.
Greg Ibach, USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs says that while there is confidence that the U.S. can remain free from FMD, having access to the vaccine is an important insurance policy.

The domestic livestock industry hasn’t had a case of FMD since 1929 but the Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-R) explained that this was one of his top priorities during the 2018 farm bill process. “While I hope we never need it” he explained, “it will give American livestock producers rapid-response capabilities should a devastating outbreak occur.”
(SOURCE: All Ag News)