FMD Emergency Preparedness Course Overview

Modules After taking module participants will be able to:
Opening webinar:
Introduction to FMD
  • link the global FMD situation to the risk of an FMD incursion into North America;
  • appreciate the importance of emergency preparedness for FMD;
  • summarize the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Module 1: Aetiology and Pathogenesis
  • describe the global significance and distribution of FMD;
  • describe the impact an FMD outbreak would have in Canada;
  • explain the importance of FMD preparedness;
  • discuss the species susceptible to FMD, with a focus on the main domestic hosts;
  • describe the pathogenesis of FMD;
  • identify routes of transmission of the disease and their relative importance.
Module 2: Clinical Diagnosis
  • explain how to conduct a thorough clinical examination of an animal suspected to have FMD;
  • recognise the clinical signs of FMD in cattle, small ruminants and pigs;
  • age FMD lesions and understand the epidemiological and diagnostic importance of lesion ageing.
Module 3: Laboratory Diagnosis
  • describe the diagnostic tools available for the detection of FMD;
  • explain how to take appropriate samples to enable laboratory diagnosis of FMD.
Module 4: Field Epidemiological Investigation
  • describe the routes and risk factors for transmission of FMD, and their relative importance;
  • construct a timeline showing the key events during an outbreak of FMD on a premises;
  • use the timeline to carry out source and spread tracing, and recognize the importance of prioritizing dangerous contacts for tracing;
  • outline effective communication methods to use when liaising with livestock owners during an FMD outbreak.
Module 5: Biosecurity
  • relate the characteristics of FMD virus and its environmental resistance to appropriate biosecurity strategies;
  • describe the risks of FMD virus spread associated with veterinary personnel;
  • describe the key elements of biosecurity;
  • explain how to effectively use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce risks of spreading FMD virus;
  • explain how to establish an effective cleaning and disinfection protocol for use when visiting premises suspected of FMD infection.
Module 6: Contingency Planning and Emergency Management
  • explain the legislative basis of FMD control in Canada;
  • explain the overall policy aims of a Canadian FMD response;
  • recognize the importance of preparing contingency plans for FMD outbreaks;
  • describe the roles and responsibilities of the organizations and management structures involved in FMD preparedness and response in Canada;
  • outline the information contained within and importance of Canada’s foreign animal disease contingency plans including CFIA’s FMD Hazard Specific Plan;
  • describe the control measures which would be applied if FMD was confirmed in Canada.
Module 7: FMD Vaccination
  • explain the key features of FMD vaccines, and the challenges these pose to their use in disease control;
  • outline the vaccination strategies which might be used in the event of an outbreak (protective and suppressive vaccination);
  • summarize the implications of FMD vaccination on the time taken to disease freedom recognition by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE);
  • outline the process undertaken in Canada to decide whether or not FMD vaccination will be used.
Scenario exercise
  • apply Canadian standard operating procedures to investigate a suspected outbreak of FMD on a farm in Canada.
Closing webinar
  • explain how vaccination might be used to control an FMD outbreak in North America;
  • explain aspects of the OIE code relevant to regaining of FMD free status;
  • explain how an emergency response to an FMD outbreak would be organized in Canada.

Eligible for CE Credits

RACE approved: This program has been approved for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

Also recognized by:

  • Alberta Veterinary Medical Association
  • College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
  • Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (see MVMA policy)
  • New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association
  • Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association
  • Prince Edward Island Veterinary Medical Association
  • Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association