It's a symbiotic exchange. Much-needed veterinary resources are channeled to the UK, and the VMOs return equipped with experience that strengthens US readiness to combat whatever foreign disease might be introduced. Up to now the USDA has been dispatching a combination of state and federal employees. The USDA is now sending 15 veterinarians a week for 30-day periods, so there will be a stream of 60 US veterinarians there continuously. Md. He is Dr. Jacob Casper of Baltimore.
Officers first travel to their respective federal area offices for briefing, then onto London.
There they are met by officials from the British Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food for a three-hour briefing and an informational exchange with VMOs returning to the States that week. Then it's on to their work location. James Leahy and Doris Olander, before they left. My associate is supportive and said I should go ahead and do it. Large animal experience, although not a prerequisite, is useful for the FMD mission.