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One Health Initiative The Florida Experience. Carina Blackmore DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM Florida Department of Health Representing the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Florida Facts. 19 million residents (4 th largest state) 67 counties Tourism
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One Health InitiativeThe Florida Experience Carina Blackmore DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM Florida Department of Health Representing the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Florida Facts • 19 million residents (4th largest state) • 67 counties • Tourism • Large cattle and horse industries • Small poultry industry • Insignificant swine industry
Florida State Government • Florida Department of Agriculture • Central disease control management led by State Veterinarian • United States Department of Agriculture provides indemnity funding • Florida Department of Health • Decentralized disease management, 67 County Health Departments • Florida Fish and Wildlife Agency • Conservation and animal population management • 2 veterinarians on staff
Florida LocalGovernment • Emergency Operations • All disasters are local • Animal Control Agencies • Stray dog and cat control, (suburban wildlife) • Mosquito Control Agencies • Available in more populated counties
Other • Professional interest groups (DVM, MD, EH) • Universities • Humane Society • Wildlife Rescue Groups • Zoological Institutions • Federal partners (CDC, USDA)
One Health Initiatives • Rabies Prevention and Control • Vector-borne Disease Prevention and Control • Animal Influenza • Carcass Disposal • Food and Waterborne Disease Response • Emerging Threats • Rift Valley Fever • TB • Salmonella in tomatoes • Water quantity and quality
Strategies • Joint guidance documents • Regular meetings with public information officers from 3 state agencies • Joint trainings, satellite broadcasts, emergency exercises, articles for professional groups • Joint meeting with emergency response leadership • Daily communications on routine zoonotic disease or unknown mortality events • Always willing and able!
Identify win-win situations • Animal influenza responders need personal protective equipment and access to antivirals • Oyster Industry needs accurate statistics to protect their harvests • Florida hunters get Brucella suisfrom feral swine • Feed partners information they want • Market your partners
Successes • Close working relationships across state agencies. • Electronic data sharing • Recognition of the value of animal health partners among public health leaders • Public Health-Veterinary Liaison • Food and Waterborne Disease Liaison • Chemical Preparedness Liaison • Trust we can build on in an emergency
Challenges • Central vs. decentralized agency structure • Strong stakeholder interests-the wild South East • Agriculture Industry, Hunters, Conservationists, Industrialists, Animal Rights Advocates, Feral Cat Advocates, Exotic Animal Owners etc. • Funding for zoonotic disease prevention and control • Disease d’jour focus • Recession • Turnover among public information staff