FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE RESPONSE PLAN: 

THE RED BOOK

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Presentation updated 

October 2020
Purpose of Plan

• Provides responders with:

– A guiding APHIS policy document to 

use during an FMD outbreak in 

domestic livestock.

– Current strategic guidance for 

control, containment, and 

eradication of FMD in an outbreak.

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Target Audience

• Animal health 

emergency 

responders, Federal, 

State, local, and Tribal 

government as well as 

industry partners. 
Red Book Chapters

General to strategic to tactical

• FMD Information

• National FMD Preparedness and Response

• Outbreak Response Goals and Strategy

• Critical Activities and Tools

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FMD Response Goals

1. Detect, control, and contain FMD in animals as quickly 

as possible.

2. Eradicate FMD using strategies that are designed to 

stabilize animal agriculture, the food supply, and the 

economy, and to protect public health and the 

environment.

3. Provide science-and risk-based approaches and 

systems to facilitate continuity of business for noninfected animals and non-contaminated animal 

products.

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FMD Response Goals, cont.

In summary, achieving these three goals will allow 

individual livestock facilities, States, Tribes, regions, 

and industries to resume normal production as quickly 

as possible. They will also allow the United States to 

regain FMD-free status without the response effort 

causing more disruption and damage than the disease 

outbreak itself.

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FMD Response Strategy

Control and Eradication Strategy

• Five potential strategies, including use of emergency 

vaccination.

• Selection of a response strategy depends on several 

factors. – Spread and distribution of outbreak, and population density of 

susceptible animals.

– Desired FMD-status after an outbreak.

– Resources available, including for vaccination, surveillance, 

diagnostics, and disposal.

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FMD Response Strategy

Coordinated Public Awareness Campaign

• Occurs in conjunction with any response strategy 

or strategies.

• Engages and leverages State-Federal-Tribalstakeholder relationships to provide unified public 

messages for all audiences.

• Addresses issues and concerns relating to food 

safety, public health, and animal welfare.

• Addresses issues and concerns related to 

interstate commerce, continuity of business, and 

international trade. 

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Response Critical Activities and Tools 

• Surveillance

• Diagnostics (Sample Collection, Surge Capacity, and Reporting)

• Epidemiological Investigation and FAD Tracing

• Information Management

• Communications

• Health and Safety and PPE 

• Biosecurity

• Quarantine and Movement Control

• Continuity of Business

• Regionalization

• Mass Depopulation and Euthanasia 

• Disposal 

• Cleaning and Disinfection 

• Vaccination

• Appraisal and Compensation

• Finance 9

ISU
Supporting FAD PReP Materials

Strategic Plans

•APHIS Foreign Animal Disease 

Framework: Roles and Coordination 

(FAD PReP Manual 1-0)

•APHIS Foreign Animal Disease 

Framework: Response Strategies 

(FAD PReP Manual 2-0)

•Incident Information Management and 

Reporting

(FAD PReP Manual 3-0)

•FAD Investigation Manual

(FAD PReP Manual 4-0)

•A Partial List of FAD Stakeholders 

(FAD PReP Manual 5-0)

•Permitted Movement

(FAD PReP Manual 6-0)

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Supporting FAD PReP Materials

NAHEMS Guidelines

• Health and Safety

• PPE

• Quarantine and Movement 

Control

• Surveillance , Epidemiology, and 

Tracing

• Continuity of Business

• Biosecurity

• Cleaning and Disinfection

• Disposal

• Mass Depopulation and 

Euthanasia

• Vaccination

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For More Information

APHIS Website

www.aphis.usda.gov/fadprep 

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