The first priority of the NAVVCB is to increase stockpile of which vaccine?

• A. Foot and Mouth Disease
• B. African Swine Fever
• C. Exotic Newcastle Disease
• D. Avian Influenza

Answer: (A)

This item is about choosing a vaccine stockpile strategy based on which disease poses the broadest, fastest-reaching economic and health threat to livestock. Foot-and-mouth disease stands out because it is extremely contagious across many species of cloven-hooved animals and spreads rapidly through animal movement, fomites, and wildlife contact. Outbreaks can trigger massive production losses, herd depopulation, and long-lasting trade restrictions, with ripple effects across multiple sectors, from farming to meat and dairy markets. Having a ready supply of FMD vaccines allows a rapid vaccination response to contain new outbreaks, protect livestock populations early, and help restore normal trade sooner. It also aligns with regions that are at high risk for incursions, enabling preemptive or ring vaccination strategies when borders or supply chains are stressed.

In contrast, while vaccines exist or are under development for other diseases in the list, their control challenges are different. African swine fever currently lacks a widely effective, broadly applicable vaccine, so stockpiling for ASF is not as straightforward a preventive strategy. Exotic Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza vaccines are used in specific contexts and may depend on circulating strains and surveillance results; the urgency and breadth of need for a general stockpile are not as uniformly pressing as with foot-and-mouth disease.