APHIS Factsheet

Veterinary Services August 2012

National Veterinary 

Stockpile

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

is responsible for safeguarding American agriculture. 

As a part of this mission, APHIS’ National Veterinary 

Stockpile (NVS) program provides support to States, 

Tribes, and Territories responding to damaging animal 

disease outbreaks. To help stop animal diseases from 

spreading, response efforts must be fast and wellcoordinated. Within 24 hours, the NVS can provide 

veterinary countermeasures—including certain types 

of animal vaccines, antivirals, supplies, equipment, 

and response support services—to animal health 

officials in affected areas. 

Established in 2004 by a Presidential directive, the 

NVS helps protect the Nation’s food supply by quickly 

providing necessary resources during an animal 

disease outbreak. This allows animal health officials 

to deliver a rapid and effective disease response. With 

NVS support, officials can set up immediate measures 

to contain and eradicate the disease, minimizing the 

animal losses, market disruptions, and other economic 

damages that result from an outbreak. 

In addition to providing resources and materials when 

outbreaks occur, NVS personnel help States, Tribes, 

and Territories prepare for future outbreaks through 

careful advance planning, staff training, and hands-on 

simulations. The goal is to ensure the rapid request, 

receipt, processing, and distribution of NVS resources 

during an actual event. 

Available NVS Resources

The NVS offers many resources to assist animal health 

officials in addressing the human and livestock health 

threats posed by disease outbreaks. These resources, 

known as “veterinary countermeasures,” include: 

1. personal protective equipment for on-the-ground 

responders to guard against infection and other 

on-site hazards;

2. decontamination supplies to inactivate pathogens;

3. vaccines to quickly protect livestock and poultry at 

risk of infection;

4. vaccination equipment and supplies (such as 

needles and syringes) to effectively immunize large 

numbers of livestock and poultry;

5. animal handling and depopulation equipment 

to restrain and manage livestock and poultry 

humanely; and

6. assistance in securing outside companies,

if needed, to provide trained personnel and 

additional equipment for large-scale depopulation, 

disposal, and decontamination work.

Outreach and Exercises

NVS personnel assist States, Tribes, and Territories in 

planning for potential disease outbreaks to help ensure 

a smooth response in the event that NVS resources 

are needed. For example, NVS provides a planning 

guide, a plan template, and other tools that explain in 

detail what factors to consider when planning a logistical response. NVS personnel can also share their 

fi rst-hand experiences and expertise in preparing for 

and responding to various types of disease situations, 

which further aids the planning process. 

Once a plan is developed, NVS personnel provide 

logistical training and conduct exercises with States, 

Tribes, and Territories in accordance with the Homeland 

Security Exercise Evaluation Program. These exercises 

test NVS deployment procedures and help Federal, 

State, Tribal, local, and private-sector partners to:

• understand the NVS program and available 

countermeasures;

• test their abilities to request, receive, process, and 

distribute NVS countermeasures;

• clarify roles and responsibilities for a logistical 

response; and

• identify resource gaps and make improvements 

before outbreaks occur.

Contact Us

To learn more, visit the NVS Web site at 

http://nvs.aphis.usda.gov or email nvs@aphis.usda.gov. 

You can also reach the NVS staff at 301-851-3595 

(phone) or 301-734-7817 (fax). In an emergency, 

please call the National Center for Animal Health 

Emergency Management hotline: 1-800-940-6524.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture