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


For immediate release:

STRENGTHENING VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LAB NETWORK IS CRITICAL

	Richmond, VA – Feb. 24, 2006 – Strengthening the National Animal Health Laboratory 
Network (NAHLN) was a primary focus of the joint meeting of the Committee on Government 
Relations and other officials of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the 
American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) in Washington, D.C., 
Feb. 12-16.

	According to Dr. Bret Marsh, USAHA President, only 12 of the Nations state and 
university veterinary diagnostic laboratories are now “up to speed” - that is, supplied with 
modern up-to-date equipment and trained technicians so they can deal with foreign animal 
disease outbreaks.  “With the nation currently facing the threat of H5N1 avian influenza, 
laboratory diagnostic capability is critical,” Marsh said.

	The NAHLN, which began as a pilot project in 2002, is currently composed of just 12 
state and university veterinary diagnostic laboratories linked together with a secure 
communication, reporting and alert system.  These laboratories have been provided with 
upgraded equipment and personnel to give them the capability to make preliminary diagnoses of 
certain foreign animal diseases, such as avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and 
classical swine fever (CSF – also known as hog cholera).  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 
(USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory and Plum Island Animal Disease Diagnostic 
Laboratory, where diagnosis of foreign diseases is confirmed, are also part of the NAHLN.  

	Funding for up-to-date equipment, laboratory reagents and trained personnel is essential 
to bring the remaining laboratories up to speed.  “This will enable the United States not only to 
better deal with endemic animal diseases,” Marsh said, “but also outbreaks of foreign animal 
disease - whether introduced accidentally or by terrorist groups.”  Full implementation of the 
NAHLN will cost $90 million for equipment and materials plus $35 million annually for 
operating expenses.

	“Quick and accurate laboratory diagnosis is key to the control and eventual elimination of 
animal diseases,” he added.

	Marsh pointed out that if an outbreak of avian influenza or some other foreign animal 
disease were to occur, our current laboratory diagnostic capability could be quickly 
overwhelmed.  “If action is not taken to remedy this situation,” he said, “we will be facing the 
same kind of criticism now being leveled at Hurricane Katrina responders.”

	Another topic receiving attention at the joint USAHA/AAVLD Washington meeting was 
the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).  In January, USAHA officials met with 
Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns and offered to host a jointly facilitated session on the 
NAIS.   Marsh said the objective of such a meeting would be to assemble a small group of key 
industry representatives to move plans for a national animal identification system forward.  The 
USAHA proposal is currently under consideration by USDA.

	Other issues addressed at the USAHA/AAVLD meeting included veterinary accreditation 
programs, surveillance for animal and poultry diseases, emergency management systems for 
foreign animal diseases, and plans for dealing with both low-pathogenic and high-pathogenic 
avian influenza.  

	The USAHA/AAVLD Washington meeting involved discussions with a number of 
government and industry groups, including officials of  USDA’s Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) as well as officials of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  
The USAHA/AAVLD group also met with representatives of the Animal Agriculture Coalition 
(AAC), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association 
of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).

	USAHA, the nation's animal health forum for over a century, is a science-based, national 
organization made up of representatives from state and federal animal health agencies, other 
federal government agencies, researchers, diagnosticians, wildlife disease experts, and national 
allied industry organizations.  Founded in 1897, USAHA addresses issues of animal health and 
disease control, food safety, public health, homeland security and animal welfare.  AAVLD 
coordinates diagnostic activities of regulatory, research and services laboratories and 
disseminates information relating to diagnosis of animal diseases.  The two organizations meet 
jointly each fall.  This year’s meeting will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Oct. 12-19, 2006.

					###