The first priority of the NAVVCB is to increase the U.S. stockpile of which animal vaccine?

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

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is why a national vaccine reserve for animal diseases is prioritized, focusing on which disease would most benefit from a rapid vaccination response. Foot-and-mouth disease stands out because it is extremely contagious among many livestock species, spreads quickly through movements and contact, and there is no simple treatment to stop it. Vaccination, when deployed rapidly in well-planned ring vaccination or outbreak-control strategies, can dramatically limit transmission and protect large numbers of animals, producers, and trade. Having a ready stockpile means authorities can start vaccination right away, reducing the outbreak’s size and the associated economic and trade impacts.

Other diseases are serious concerns, but the combination of high contagiousness, broad host range, and the substantial economic risk to the U.S. livestock sector makes foot-and-mouth disease the top priority for stockpiling vaccines.