Iowa officials plan for vaccine distribution in case of FMD outbreak

A recent workshop hosted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture aimed to ensure the state is prepared to distribute a vaccine in case of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The two-day workshop on foreign animal disease planning and preparation was held by the agriculture department in partnership with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

FMD is a highly contagious disease affecting animals with cloven hooves, like cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. If an outbreak occurred, there would be a limited supply of vaccines available. Iowa officials have drafted vaccination plans to prioritize affected species and classes of animals and to distribute the vaccine to stop the spread of the disease.

During the two-day exercise, representatives from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, USDA, Iowa State University and industry groups discussed the criteria that would trigger an FMD vaccine request, how state and federal animal health officials would obtain and distribute the vaccines and how vaccinated animals would be tracked through the supply chain.

Officials urge producers to register their livestock facilities with the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Premises Identification Program, which health officials will use to contact livestock producers if an outbreak occurs.