If a veterinary practitioner suspects a foreign animal disease, they should:

If a veterinary practitioner suspects a foreign animal disease, they should:

• A. Should report to colleagues for internal discussion
• B. Should report to the media
• C. Should ignore the issue
• D. Are responsible for reporting to the AVIC and SAHO

Answer: (D)

Prompt reporting to the official authorities is essential when a veterinarian suspects a foreign animal disease. This triggers the national response system, enabling rapid surveillance, confirmation of the diagnosis, containment measures, trace-back, and movement controls to prevent spread. AVIC and SAHO are the designated channels for such reporting, ensuring the information reaches the people who coordinate investigation and response work. By using these channels, the practitioner meets legal obligations and helps protect animal health, farm livelihoods, and public health. Internal discussion with colleagues may be useful for interim assessment, but it does not activate the official response. Reporting to the media can cause misinformation and panic and undermines containment efforts, while ignoring the issue puts animals and people at risk.

Prompt reporting to the official authorities is essential when a veterinarian suspects a foreign animal disease. This triggers the national response system, enabling rapid surveillance, confirmation of the diagnosis, containment measures, trace-back, and movement controls to prevent spread. AVIC and SAHO are the designated channels for such reporting, ensuring the information reaches the people who coordinate investigation and response work. By using these channels, the practitioner meets legal obligations and helps protect animal health, farm livelihoods, and public health.

Internal discussion with colleagues may be useful for interim assessment, but it does not activate the official response. Reporting to the media can cause misinformation and panic and undermines containment efforts, while ignoring the issue puts animals and people at risk.