Wildlife-Agriculture Disease Prevention: Enhancing Coordination for Public and Livestock Health.
This Act aims to better protect public health and the economy, especially agriculture, by strengthening cooperation between federal, state, and tribal agencies in monitoring and responding to diseases transmitted by wildlife (zoonotic diseases). It establishes the position of the Agriculture-Wildlife Disease Coordinator to facilitate information and resource sharing, which is crucial for quickly containing outbreaks like avian influenza before they threaten humans and cause economic losses.
Key points
A new position, the Agriculture-Wildlife Disease Coordinator, is established within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to improve communication between the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Enhanced coordination is intended to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases (e.g., avian influenza, chronic wasting disease) from wildlife to livestock and domestic animals, thereby protecting public health and minimizing financial losses in agriculture.
The Coordinator will assist states and Indian Tribes in accessing necessary funding and resources for monitoring and managing wildlife diseases, including developing and sharing best management practices.
The Act acknowledges that over 6 out of 10 known human infectious diseases originate in animals, underscoring the urgent need for better interagency collaboration to protect citizens.
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