APHIS Announces Final Strategic Framework for Enhancing Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other Emerging Diseases Under the American Rescue Plan

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is pleased to announce the final Strategic Framework (PDF, 362 KB) outlining how the Agency will advance surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging zoonotic diseases as directed by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP). Early detection and response to pathogens with zoonotic potential while still in animals is essential in limiting or preventing human outbreaks. Additionally, the Agency has launched a new website to help stakeholders and the public stay up to date on the Agency’s broad array of ongoing One Health initiatives as well as SARS-CoV-2 surveillance projects and other activities funded by the $300 million provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.

“The One Health concept recognizes that the health of people, animals, and the environment are all linked,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Using this One Health approach will benefit the country for many years to come by better enabling us to rapidly detect new disease threats and provide intelligence to our public health partners.”

In August 2021, APHIS announced its proposed Strategic Framework to guide surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging and zoonotic diseases in susceptible animals and build an early warning system to alert public health partners to potential threats so they can take steps sooner to prevent or limit the next global pandemic. The Agency solicited input from the public through Regulations.gov and a series of public listening sessions. The Agency appreciates the helpful suggestions for tools, methods, and potential partnerships as we move into the implementation phase of our early warning surveillance program.

“The final Strategic Framework builds on APHIS’ proven expertise preparing for and responding to foreign animal disease outbreaks,” said APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea. “At APHIS, we are driven by the great opportunity this initiative provides to propel our work in the One Health arena forward, and in turn better protect the health of animals, plants, humans and our shared environments while minimizing the negative impacts of COVID-19 and other emerging and zoonotic diseases on the economy and food security.”

USDA is working to implement a risk-based, comprehensive, integrated disease monitoring and surveillance system domestically, and enhance collaborations with national, regional, and global partners to build additional capacity for zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention.

The new One Health website will provide valuable data on testing and surveillance and, over time, will provide an important One Health link by sharing guidance based on the outcomes of APHIS ARP work and linking to valuable information from other One Health partners.

Visitors to the site can read background information on the ARP and APHIS’ Strategic Framework, as well as summaries of ARP-funded surveillance projects and other activities. From the page, they can also click on a link to sign-up to receive automatic email alerts when new project summaries and other ARP updates are posted. USDA encourages stakeholders who are interested in APHIS’ American Rescue Plan activities to sign up to keep informed on our latest activities.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.