Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-g5fl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-28T18:20:43.079Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Natural Disasters: The Role of the Veterinarian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Roscoe M. Moore Jr*
Affiliation:
Medical Officer, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
Ronald G. Kaczmarek
Affiliation:
Chief, Epidemiology Branch, Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration; Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, United States Public Health Service, Office of The Surgeon General, Rockville, Maryland, USA
Yvette M. Davis
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Fellow, United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland, USA
*
Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration 12200 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852USA

Abstract

Natural disasters create a multiplicity of problems and hazards ranging from outbreaks of infectious disease to animal control problems. By virtue of their unique training and clinical skills, there is considerable potential for veterinarians to fulfill major roles in disaster intervention. The potential role of the veterinarian features a number of important tasks before, during, and after a natural disaster. Some of the tasks include: 1) resolution of problems common to many natural disasters; 2) control of disease vectors; 3) control of disease transmission; 4) herd management; 5) animal health care; 6) search and rescue; 7) animal control; 8) maintenance of medical supplies; 9) information dissemination; 10) disaster assessment; and 11) pre-disaster planning.

Type
The Administrator
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Schroeder, RJ (ed): Veterinary Services in Disasters and Emergencies. American Veterinary Medical Association Monograph, 1987.Google Scholar
2. American Humane Society: Operational Guide: Emergency Animal Relief and Disaster Planning. American Humane Association, 1973.Google Scholar
3. Gillet, M: Disaster epidemiology. Newsletter Intl Soc Disaster Med 1985;27:16.Google Scholar
4. Blake, PA: Communicable disease control. In: The Public Health Consequences of Disasters. Gregg, MB, French, J, Binder, S (eds). Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control, 1989, pp 712.Google Scholar
5. Porter, JD, Ragazzoni, HP, Buchanon, JD, Waskin, HA, Juranek, DD, Parkin, WE: Giardia transmission in a swimming pool. Am J Public Health 1988;6:659662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Bartels, JE, Thornton, BS: Veterinary services in emergencies. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1987;190:703705.Google ScholarPubMed
7. Mantovani, A: The role of veterinary sciences in chemical disasters and emergencies. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1989;4:155159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Tsai, TF, Bailey, RE, Moore, PS: National surveillance of Lyme disease Connecticut Medicine 1989; 53:324326.Google ScholarPubMed
9. Logue, JN, Melick, ME, Hansen, H: Research issues and directions in the epidemiology of health effects of disasters. Epidemiologic Reviews 1981;3:140162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Pefanis, SM, Du Preez, JH: National disasters and the veterinarian. J South African Vet Assoc 1987;June: 6369.Google Scholar
11. Casper, J: personal communication, 18 January 1990.Google Scholar
12. The Search and Rescue Dog Committee: Dogs Can Help in Search and Rescue Operations: National Association of Search and Rescue. Kal Kan Foods, Inc., 1984.Google Scholar
13. Kay, JM: The role of veterinary medicine in times of disaster. Modern Veterinary Practice 1981;May:345346.Google Scholar
14. Moore, RM, Zehmer, RB, Moulthrop, JI, Parker, RL: Surveillance of animal-bite cases in the United States, 1971–1972. Arch Environ Health 1977; Nov/Dec: 267271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Stryker, WS, Gunn, RA, Francis, DP: Outbreak of hepatitis B associated with acupuncture. Am J Fam Prac 1986;22:155158.Google ScholarPubMed
16. Moore, RM, Kaczmarek, RG, McCroban, J, Isreal, E: Multi-state investigation of the actual disinfection/sterilization of gastrointestinal endoscopes. Presentation at Third International Conference on Nosocomial Infections, 2 August 1990. Atlanta, Georgia, USA.Google Scholar
17. Kaczmarek, RG, Moore, RM, Chamberlain, V, et al. Multi-state investigation of sterilizer performance in health care facilities. Presentation at American Public Health Association Meeting, 2 October 1990. New York, New York, USA.Google Scholar
18. Presidential Documents: Assignment of emergency preparedness responsibilities. Federal Register 1988; 53:4749147501.Google Scholar
19. Hannah, HW: The role of the veterinarian in disaster medicine: Legal considerations. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1965; 147:15061514.Google ScholarPubMed
20. Reese, CA: The national disaster medical system. J Am Assoc Nurs Anesth 1989;57:493499.Google Scholar