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Contingency Planning: Preparation of Contingency Plans
Author(s) -
Westergaard J. M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
zoonoses and public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.87
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1863-2378
pISSN - 1863-1959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.01088.x
Subject(s) - contingency plan , preparedness , outbreak , biosecurity , legislation , livestock , european union , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , business , environmental health , agriculture , disease surveillance , environmental protection , veterinary medicine , disease , geography , medicine , political science , virology , international trade , law , computer security , virus , archaeology , pathology , forestry , computer science
Summary Outbreaks of infectious animal diseases such as foot‐and‐mouth disease, classical swine fever, Newcastle disease and avian influenza may have a devastating impact, not only on the livestock sector and the rural community in the directly affected areas, but also beyond agriculture and nation wide. The risk of introducing disease pathogens into a country and the spread of the agent within a country depends on a number of factors including import controls, movement of animals and animal products and the biosecurity applied by livestock producers. An adequate contingency plan is an important instrument in the preparation for and the handling of an epidemic. The legislation of the European Union requires that all Member States draw up a contingency plan which specifies the national measures required to maintain a high level of awareness and preparedness and is to be implemented in the event of disease outbreak. This paper describes the main elements to be included in the contingency plans submitted by Member States to the European Commission for approval.