Wyoming Department of Health

State Health Officer

All Hazards

WRVC

Wyoming Regional Veterinary Public Health Coordinators

Karl Musgrave, State Public Health Veterinarian

Regional Veterinarian Coordinator Program and

Animal Disaster Preparedness

The Regional Veterinary Coordinators (RVCs) conduct weekly active surveillance among veterinary clinics and other information sources for zoonotic diseases and other adverse health events in animals that could impact public health. The reporting of confirmed or suspected animal cases involving a potential agent of bioterrorism is strongly encouraged. Other adverse health events reported thorough the surveillance system include environmental exposures, poisonings, undiagnosed illness syndromes, wild animal die-offs, and injuries. Information collected by the RVCs is reported to the state public health veterinarian and staff who compile this information into weekly, monthly and yearly summaries. The summaries are widely distributed throughout the state and are also available at the PHEPP website at (see below).

From August of 2010 Through July of 2011, a total of 1,198 reports were received through the surveillance program. An average of 36 veterinary clinics reported information each week. A majority (667) of the reports involved animal bites and other potential rabies exposures to humans. Also commonly reported were animal cases (and human cases where an animal was the likely source) of campylobacter (79) and salmonella (23). Cases of giardia (43) and other internal zoonotic parasites (44) in animals were also reported. Reports of confirmed or suspected animal cases involving a potential bioterrorism agent included cases of anthrax (moose), plague (dog, coyotes), brucellosis (bovine), botulism (dog, horse), and Q fever (goat).

The RVCs also assisted with numerous field investigations and interventions. These activities included helping with preparedness and response activities related to flooding in Regions 1 and 4. RVCs were also called upon to assist in responding to outbreaks of Chlamydophilia psittaci in pet store birds, campylobacteriosis in cattle and dogs, and rabies in bats.

The RVCs continue to coordinate local planning for animal disasters where there may be public health implications. The RVCs are active participants of Local Emergency Planning Committees in many counties. The RVCs also participate as animal disaster subject matter experts on Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Emergency Response Teams in their respective regions. Some of the recent preparedness activities have included helping a county develop plans for a mobile animal rescue and shelter system, assisting in the recruitment of veterinarians to the Wyoming Veterinary Reserve Corps, and helping distribute “go bags”, duffle bags containing PPE and other emergency response supplies, to County Veterinarians and other members of the Veterinary Reserve Corps.

Emergency preparedness exercises and trainings that RVCs participated in and/or helped coordinate included a CBRNE animal decontamination class at the Jackson Hole Veterinary Rendezvous, An Agriculture and Food Vulnerability Assessment Training in Cheyenne and Riverton, the FEMA sponsored Great Central Shakeout National Level Exercise, an Animal Disease Response Training (AWR-206-1) held in Sundance, Basic Agricultural Emergency Response Training for CBRNE Incidents (AgERT-B) at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama, and several local white powder (anthrax) exercises.

The RVC program continues to receive requests for presentations about information collected through disease surveillance with talks given at the Wyoming State Fair, to a University of Wyoming epidemiology class, and to a University of Wyoming pre-veterinary club.

Wyoming Regional Veterinary Public Health Coordinators

Karl Musgrave, State Public Health Veterinarian

Regional Veterinarian Coordinator Program and

Our Staff...