Development of the Nebraska Livestock Emergency Disease Response System (LEDRS) began in 2002 in response to biosecurity and agroterrorism concerns. The 'System' consists of multiple efforts aimed at protecting the food sources available in our unique agricultural state.

One of the components created from the Nebraska emergency operations developed was the LEDRS Veterinary Corps. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture initiated a campaign to recruit practicing veterinarians who are willing to commit to efforts surrounding livestock disease surveillance and emergency response. The Department agreed to provide necessary training and educational opportunities for members of the Corps to fully prepare participating veterinarians in the event of an emergency response. From the LEDRS, ten (10) Sentinel Veterinary Clinics were also selected to be responsible for bi-monthly syndromic reporting, to assist with the surveillance efforts.

The LEDRS Veterinary Corps convenes for an annual conference where training and educational seminars are offered to the group. Subjects for training have included foreign animal diseases, emergency preparedness, incident command systems, dealing with the media, APHIS operations, syndromic surveillance, federal/state relations, evidentiary procedures, feed toxicities, incident command protocol, and mental health response for producers in an emergency situation. In addition, other opportunities for training have been made available via seminars offered in other states or with other agencies, on-line web based training, departmental regional meetings, and newly published materials.

The LEDRS Veterinary Corps is committed to providing an immediate response, should an agricultural emergency ever arise. On a volunteer basis, they agree to:

• Increased training and education as needed;

• Participating in exercises and meetings;

• Enhancing technology inventory where required; and

• Serving as a liaison, immediate and on-going, between the communities they serve and government emergency response efforts;

• Responding to an emergency event when commissioned and available;

Overview of a Foreign Animal Disease Response

LEDRS Update Spring 2008

LEDRS Application Form

2008 LEDRS Conference Registration Form

2008 LEDRS Conference Agenda (Draft)

Web Sites for Animal and Zoonotic Disease Information

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