Module 1: What is It?
Module 1
Overview
There are several diseases of importance in food animals across Illinois, many of them FADs. Over the last four years, state and federal regulatory agency personnel have been deployed multiple times to respond to highly pathogenic avian influenza. Small producers are identified as a stakeholder group that may get overlooked in FAD training opportunities. This module provides an understanding of the disease landscape for veterinarians and extension professionals to enhance the capability of small livestock producers to contribute to FAD prevention, mitigation, and recovery.
- Identify the most common clinical presentations for each of the diseases discussed including avian influenza, Newcastle, African swine fever, classical swine fever, New World screw worm, and vesicular diseases.
- Understand what the potential impacts are of one of these FADs to Illinois.
- Recognize the most likely FADs you may see and when to intervene and call for help.
Takeaway
- Be able to share information on these diseases readily with producers you interact with on a routine basis.
- Don’t hesitate to contact your state veterinarian’s office or your USDA VS Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) if you or your client suspects that their herd or flock may have been impacted by a Foreign Animal Disease. It is best to err on the side of caution.
Resources
Shared links available as of 7/31/25
Poultry
- CFSPH Avian Influenza (pdf)
- Defend the Flock
- Sick Bird Hotline: 1-866-536-7593
Swine
- Protect Pigs
- Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) Introduction (pdf)
- Hunters
- Sick Domestic SwineHotline: 1-866-536-7593
- Sick Wild Swine Hotline: 1-866-487-3297
Livestock and Cattle Resources
Wrap it Up
- Foreign Animal Diseases have the potential to cause devastating losses to individual producers and the entire US livestock and poultry industry. Producers can be the first line of defense for the US livestock industry even if they have a very small operation. This module provides veterinarians and extension professionals with two resources to share with producers that will help protect their herds and flocks. The first is awareness of the clinical presentation of some of the Foreign Animal Diseases that are currently of concern in the US. Early recognition of an outbreak is the most important feature of effective outbreak response.
- The second resource is knowing what to do if there is a suspicion of a Foreign Animal Disease in their herd or flock. The Illinois Department of Agriculture Office of the State Veterinarian and the USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) are here to support livestock producers. If a Foreign Animal Disease is suspected, producers should immediately reach out to their state veterinarian or USDA AVIC for guidance and support. They will be able to confirm or rule-out the diagnosis and assist with the appropriate response measures to keep the producer in business and safeguard neighboring farms.