The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the State Veterinarian, totaling $113,783 on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).
The Office of the State Veterinarian will conduct animal disease surveillance testing, investigate suspect cases of reportable animal diseases, and respond to animal health incidents in partnership with USDA and other animal health partners. The work addresses Alaska's distinctive animal health challenges, including its vast geography, expansive interface between domestic and wild animals, sparse veterinary infrastructure, and position at the intersection of multiple migratory bird flyways critical for monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza in both wild and domestic birds. The OSV will maintain emergency preparedness systems and support federal animal health objectives to prevent the introduction and spread of high-consequence livestock and poultry diseases.
Performance of work runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 in Alaska. The Cooperative Agreement supports the federal animal health system through state-level disease surveillance, traceability compliance with USDA standards, and coordinated response with industry, federal, state, and tribal partners operating within a One Health framework.