Emergency management — An important addition to the equine practitioner's armamentarium

Abstract

Emergency management consists of 4 components—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. All 4 are necessary for an effective plan to address the next bioterrorist attack, emerging infectious disease, or foreign animal disease that may compromise our animal populations. Emergency management plans developed at the local level must coordinate with such plans at the state level, which then should ultimately coordinate at the federal level. Because the equine industry is such an economically important one in the United States, it is particularly susceptible to the devastating repercussions of natural and contrived disasters. It is essential that veterinarians remain vigilant in detecting emerging infectious or foreign animal disease events, be informed about how to contact the state and federal authorities to report their suspicions, and assist their clients with any emergency management strategies, so as to minimize losses.