Animal Disease Control
Overview
The Bureau of Animal Disease Control is responsible for administering Florida's animal disease control and eradication programs. The Bureau, in cooperation with USDA, has moved beyond traditional perceptions of animal disease control and eradication programs by addressing public health issues and major economic impacts with the development of new programs. The recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outside the United States, and West Nile Virus (WNV) in the United States, only emphasize the necessity of having a strong active animal disease monitoring program in place with an open line of communication with public officials. No longer perceiving disease control and eradication programs as bureaucratic obstacles, the public is demanding that more be done to protect the nation's animal-origin food supply. These needs, as perceived by the producer, the consumer, and associated animal industries, will influence the overall acceptability and effectiveness of future disease control and eradication programs. Many of the Bureau's current program activities take these factors into consideration.
