Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the ongoing bird flu (highly…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the ongoing bird flu (highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza) outbreaks in birds and some mammals including dairy cattlein the U.S.demonstrates that maintenance of extensive physical and human resources at the state level is essential for the USDA toefficiently detect, manage, and eradicate major disease outbreaks. This application aims at maintaining and enhancing thecapacity of the athens veterinary diagnostic laboratory (AVDL) and the tifton veterinary diagnostic and investiative laboratory(TVDIL) in georgia to test for and rapidly respond to animal disease outbreaks. The overall goals of the proposal are to enhancethe capability to rapidly respond to emerging or existing bioterrorist threats to animal health, to address emergency biologicaland chemical threats to animal agriculture and to ensure the security of the food supply. The laboratories will continue tomaintain testing and messaging proficiency for testing high consequence pathgenss that cause diseases such as avianinfluenza, african swine fever, classical swine fever, foot and mouth disease, swine influnza and new castle disease. To achieve the above goals, activities will be undertaken in five areas: 1) quality system; 2) staff training for foreign and emerging animal diseases; 3)laboratory information management system; 4) nahln sample handling, processing, and testing capacities; and 5) other integrated activities in support of the goals of nahln andagricultural security. These activities will contribute towards maintaining and enhancing the laboratory capabilities and capacityto be an effective nahln level 1 laboratory system in georgia.