National Veterinary Service Coordination in Emergencies

Gary Vroegindewey, DVM, MSS, DACVPMChair, OIE ad hoc Group on Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Relation to Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health

Veterinary Service Coordination Throughout the Disaster/Emergency Management Cycle

National Veterinary Service Coordination 

Intra‐governmental Agriculture Industry

Public Intergovernmental

Intra‐governmental Coordination in Bio‐Threats Ministries in France

•Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development•Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy•Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research•Ministry of Justice•Ministry of Finance and Public Accounts•Ministry of Defence

•Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Women's Rights•Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue•Ministry of the Interior•Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry•Ministry of the Economy, Industry and the Digital Sector•Ministry of Housing, Regional Equality and Rural Affairs•Ministry for Decentralization and the Civil Service•Ministry of Culture and Communication•Ministry of Urban Affairs, Youth and Sport•Ministry for Overseas France

Critical Infrastructure Sectors

National Veterinary Service Coordination with Bio‐threat Emergencies

Bio‐threat preparedness and response requires coordination outside of many typical daily National Veterinary Service activities

Criminal InvestigationSampling, Chain‐of‐custody, Testing, Attribution

Biosafety and Biosecurity

InternationalCoordination

OIE ad hoc Group on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction in Relation to Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health ‐ Draft Guidelines

• Uses an all‐hazards approach including bio‐threats and agroterrorism.

• Uses a  whole of nation approach.

• Coordination with government, intergovernmental, private sector, and public entities.

OIE ad hoc Group on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction in Relation to Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health ‐ Draft Guidelines

• Emphasis on preparedness and mitigation/prevention.

OIE ad hoc Group on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction in Relation to Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health ‐ Draft Guidelines

Bio‐threat DisastersAre we prepared? 

From a National Veterinary Servicesperspective the answers are clear:

Yes

No

Maybe

OIE Survey of European Region and West Asia Region Veterinary Services on Animal Health in the Light of Natural Disasters and Bioterrorism 2014

48 of 53 (91%) Countries responded to the OIE Questionnaire

Recent Experience with Natural Disaster?

Survey Responses

YES‐22NO‐25 (52%)

All Veterinary Service disaster responses were ratedAcceptable to Very Effective.

Only 14 completed After Action Reports.Only 2 were publically available.

What Animal Species are Covered in National Disaster Management Plans?

Livestock 81 % Wildlife 42 %

Companion Animal 52 % Zoo and Aquatic 52 %

VS Disaster Preparedness and Response Gapsin the 2014 Survey 

21% no National Legislation‐ animals in disasters

VS Disaster Preparedness and Response Gapsin Survey 

66% Veterinary Servicewith no disaster guidelines

VS Disaster Preparedness and Response Gapsin Survey 

23% no authority for bioterrorism investigation

27% no capacity for bioterrorism

Bioterrorism‐ Specific Gaps Indicated in Survey

Budget/Resources 32% Trained Personnel  35% 

BSL Laboratory 26 %  Forensics Capability 24 % 

Surge Capacity

OIE activities to support Competent Authoritywere Requested by 94% of Respondents 

The most requested OIE activities requested were in order:

• OIE publish standards and guidelines

• Education and Training

• Convene a Global Summit

• Planning and coordination support

• Legislative support

The Future

"Prediction is very difficult,especially if it's about the future."

-Niels Bohr