The introduction of a damaging animal disease like foot-and-mouth could devastate American animal agriculture, harm the economy, and, for zoonotic reasons, threaten the public’s health. Having enough resources for a rapid response is crucial.

The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), part of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Services, exists to provide states, tribes, and U.S. territories the resources they need to respond to 17 of the most serious animal disease threats (see sidebar).

Operational since 2006, the NVS holds large quantities of veterinary countermeasures that can be deployed anywhere in the United States within 24 hours