US-GOV-2-252671 Department of Agriculture On March 22, the Caribbean Regional Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak Simulation Exercise was successfully completed. Participant countries/territories included Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Puerto Rico and the USVI, St Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines. The simulation was conducted simultaneously in all participating countries which were linked through web-based communication tools. The first scenario involved an outbreak of FMD on one Caribbean island. The second and third scenarios dealt with the spread of FMD in the Caribbean Region and its impacts. Participants: determined the activities to be undertaken given the FMD introduction in the region, tested the national interagency communication and coordination mechanisms, tested implementation of emergency response roles/responsibilities, determined biosecurity practices and control strategies, tested the interest of national animal industries and determined key components of a recovery plan. A subject matter expert from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Daniel Herche and Tyson Whitney; Ryan Boles 202-401-7211 daniel.herche@cfo.usda.gov; Tyson.Whitney@cfo.usda.gov; bolesrj@state.gov 1280 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250 12000 U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Agriculture Livestock/veterinary services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Salaries and Expenses 12000 U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Agriculture Livestock/veterinary services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Salaries and Expenses US-GOV-2-2727-252667 Department of Agriculture The course content included: introduction to plant viruses, viral transmission, viral entry and replication, viral movement in plants, economically important viruses, diagnostics, and management. There was also a field trip where participants collected samples, lab work where they prepared samples and were exposed to the traditional viral extraction techniques (Tissue Blot Immunoassay or TBIA) as well as more modern technical such as rapid test kits and DNA kits. Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Daniel Herche and Tyson Whitney; Ryan Boles 202-401-7211 daniel.herche@cfo.usda.gov; Tyson.Whitney@cfo.usda.gov; bolesrj@state.gov 1280 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250 38000 U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Agriculture Agricultural education/training Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Salaries and Expenses 38000 U.S. Government - Department of Agriculture Agriculture Agricultural education/training Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Salaries and Expenses