Preventing an exotic disease outbreak and responding to such outbreaks

Abstract

Many diseases that are exotic to the United States are currently spreading in the world. Rift Valley fever has spread from South and Central Africa, all the way to Egypt. Increased outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have recently appeared in a number of European countries. African swine fever has become established in the Western Hemisphere. Heartwater has been diagnosed in one of the Caribbean Islands. Exotic Newcastle disease is now well established throughout the world. Hog cholera is endemic to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and illegal movement of swine or their products could be a source for additional outbreaks in the United States.