Veterinarian Workforce: Actions Are Needed to Ensure Sufficient Capacity for Protecting Public and Animal Health

Abstract

Veterinarians are essential for controlling zoonotic diseaseswhich spread between animals and humanssuch as avian influenza. Most federal veterinarians work in the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Defense (DOD), and Health and Human Services (HHS). However, there is a growing national shortage of veterinarians. GAO determined the extent to which (1) the federal government has assessed the sufficiency of its veterinarian workforce for routine activities, (2) the federal government has identified the veterinarian workforce needed during a catastrophic event, and (3) federal and state agencies encountered veterinarian workforce challenges during four recent zoonotic outbreaks. GAO surveyed 24 federal entities about their veterinarian workforce; analyzed agency workforce, pandemic, and other plans; and interviewed federal and state officials that responded to four recent zoonotic outbreaks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2009
Accession Number
AD1176857

Entities

People

  • Lisa Shames

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Diseases
  • Birds
  • Congress
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Employment
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Governments
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Health
  • Rodents
  • United States
  • Wildlife

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology