Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Agency
Write a paragraph or two about the nature of the agency’s
role in protecting environmental health.
I chose to review the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Agency
(APHIS). APHIS is an agency of the United States (U.S.) Department of
Agriculture that is responsible for safeguarding and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the [1]Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. APHIS
protects environmental health by
defending the United States’ animal and plant resources from agricultural pests
(such as the Spotted Wing Drosophila) and diseases (such Brucellosis). When a harmful
pest or disease is detected, APHIS implements emergency protocols and collaborates
with affected States to manage or eradicate the outbreak as quickly as possible
Identify a way in which the agency has an impact on
environmental quality.
One way that
APHIS has an impact on environmental quality is through their work to prevent,
control, and eliminate animal diseases, while also monitoring and promoting
animal health and productivity. APHIS works
to address zoonotic diseases (such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy) through
surveillance and developing response plans. Zoonotic diseases are infectious
diseases spread between animals and people, and are caused by harmful germs
like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. These germs can cause many
different types of illnesses in people and animals ranging from mild to serious
illness and even death. Scientists estimate that more than six out of every ten
known infectious diseases in people are spread from animals, and three out of
every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people are spread from
animals. It is imperative to reduce outbreaks of zoonotic diseases in animals to prevent infections in humans and increase
public health safety.
Resources:
· United States Department of Agriculture. Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service. Retrieved from: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/
· United States Department of Agriculture. Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service. Animal Health. Retrieved from: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/program-overview
· The Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Zoonotic Diseases. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/zoonotic-diseases.html
[1] This federal law establishes requirements
concerning the transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals and
includes restrictions on the importation of live dogs for purposes of resale,
prohibitions on animal fighting ventures, and provisions intended to prevent
the theft of personal pets
Hello Angie! This is a very informative post. Many agencies overlook the wellbeing our animals. I think it is great that APHIS works to guarantee animal health.
ReplyDeleteI think that the work of the APHIS is vital in preventing the spread of disease between animal and plants because it is important to us humans that diseases that could get passed onto us are eradicated and dealt with in a expedited manner to avoid any possibility of human infection. Thanks for posting!
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