This multi-organizational proposal focuses on improving emergencypreparedness and response planning for high consequence pathogens ofpoultry (AIV and NDV)

To be successful, we must engage a more diversegroup of private citizens that are small flock owners (backyard flocks)and private small animal veterinarians to ensure reportable diseases inavian species are identified and that the process of responding topoultry disease emergencies in non-commercial settings is known. Tomeet these needs, an interdisciplinary group representing the nextgeneration of veterinary medical, veterinary regulatory, and publichealth professionals should be training to work together through anemergency disease response. By participating in a multiday emergencyresponse training at the university of delaware, veterinary medicalstudents, graduate-level public health students, small animalveterinarians, small flock owners, and high school teachers responsiblefor agricultural sections will be immersed in various tabletop, andfull-scale emergency disease response training and exercisesspecifically geared toward poultry, a vital commodity to delaware andthe mid-atlantic region. All agricultural animal industries willbenefit from the direct and indirect engagement of students and teachersfrom high school to graduate school, which will ensure the nextgeneration of one health professionals and agriculturalists are preparedto provide effective emergency disease response. The outreach materialsgenerated through this award including brochures and lectures will bemade available to all participants to share with others. Including youngpre-professionals and agriculture teachers will help US to reachinterested parties unable to attend in person. By educating small animalveterinarians and small flock owners, we hope to increase communicationbetween the non-commercial animal public and the departments ofagriculture in the delmarva region. Through careful execution of allthe proposed outreach programs, farmers that rely on animal agriculturewill benefit from a more knowledgeable public, including a pool ofyounger citizen that may enter the agricultural workforce with basalknowledge of biosecurity, disease identification and regulation.