USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact: Larry Mark (703) 451-3954; ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

NEW USAHA/AAVLD COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS ANIMAL HEALTH EMERGENCY
ISSUES

     RICHMOND, Va., May 26, 2005 - A new committee to handle preparedness for
emergencies involving agricultural animals has been established by the United States Animal
Health Association (USAHA) and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory
Diagnosticians (AAVLD).

     According to USAHA President Dr. Rick Willer, the new standing committee -- entitled
the USAHA/AAVLD Committee on Animal Emergency Management -- will replace the
National Animal Health Emergency Management System Steering Committee.  The new
USAHA/AAVLD committee will address preparation for emergencies involving agricultural
animals including how this nation can best prepare to respond to incursions of foreign animal
diseases -- whether introduced accidentally or intentionally as acts of bioterrorism.

     Dr. Keith Roher, Colorado Assistant State Veterinarian, and Dr. Pat Blanchard, Tulare
Branch Chief of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, will co-chair
the new Committee on Animal Emergency Management.

     The initial face-to-face meeting of the committee will be during the 2005
USAHA/AAVLD annual meeting November 3-9, 2005, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Additional
information about the annual meeting can be found on the two association's web sites
(www.usaha.org and www.aavld.org).

     USAHA is a national non-profit organization working with state and federal animal
health officials, veterinarians, livestock producers, national livestock and poultry organizations,
wildlife disease experts, and research scientists to prevent and control animal diseases in the
United States.

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