Strengthening the front lines

  • Photos of various animals in an abstract background

    Strengthening the front lines

    Free training from the University of Minnesota empowers all veterinarians to safeguard livestock and communities

In today’s globalized agricultural economy, a disease outbreak anywhere poses a potential threat everywhere. Highly contagious foreign animal diseases (FADs)—such as African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)—have the power to devastate herds, disrupt national food supplies, and inflict severe economic and emotional tolls on rural communities.

While specialized swine veterinarians are on constant alert, the reality of modern practice is that the very first warning sign of an outbreak might not appear on a commercial swine facility. Instead, it might be spotted during a routine visit to a mixed-species farm, a youth livestock project, or a hobby herd—places often attended by mixed, general large-animal, equine, or small-animal practitioners with limited swine experience.

Driven by a core mission to protect community health and safeguard agricultural systems, researchers at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine have launched a vital new initiative. Funded by the USDA’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (USDA-NADPRP) and developed with support from federal and state agencies, the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), CAHFS is offering a comprehensive, free suite of live webinars and self-paced online modules.

This initiative ensures that every practicing veterinarian—regardless of their primary species focus or location—has access to practical, high-impact training to recognize and report emerging swine disease threats.

“Veterinarians across every discipline serve as our frontline defense and early warning system,” says Rachel Schambow, researcher and lead investigator of the project. “Our goal with this project is to demystify swine foreign animal diseases for general practitioners. We want to give every vet the confidence to spot something unusual, know precisely what steps to take, and support their clients through high-stress situations.”

Find information about the webinars and online modules here.

 

Live webinars

In October, CAHFS will offer two free live webinars hosted by industry experts.

Swine FAD prep for the non-swine vet

  • When: October 1, 2026 | noon–1 p.m. CDT
  • Credits: 1 CE Medical Credit (FREE)
  • Details: Featuring expert speakers from the USDA, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MN BAH), and the National Pork Board, this session covers global disease trends, biosecurity resources, and essential state reporting protocols. Co-hosted in partnership with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA).
  • Register for the Swine FAD Prep Webinar via MVMA

Response resilience: Mental health during animal disease emergencies

  • When: October 23, 2026 | noon–1 p.m. CDT
  • Credits: 1 CE Credit (FREE)
  • Details: Disease outbreaks create immense psychological strain for practitioners, farmers, and response teams. Co-presented with the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), this webinar delivers a practical toolkit to help veterinarians recognize signs of severe distress in themselves, colleagues, and clients during a veterinary emergency.
  •  Register for the Mental Health Webinar

 

 

Self-paced CE modules

Launching in late September, this course is provided free of charge through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. Each module is worth 1–2 credits of continuing education (CE) for veterinarians. 

The course is intended for practicing veterinarians in the United States who are not swine-specific but would like to increase their awareness and preparation for swine foreign animal diseases. All veterinarians of all experience levels and backgrounds are encouraged to take this course. Select content is tailored for veterinarians in Minnesota, but most content is broadly applicable to all, and resources are provided for veterinarians from any state. Practitioners can tailor their learning by completing any combination of modules in any order:

     •  Foreign animal disease (FAD) reporting and investigations (Releasing late September)
        Understand FAD investigations, state/federal agency roles, and when to report suspicious cases.

     •  Biosecurity principles for swine FAD preparedness (Releasing late September)
        Learn actionable biosecurity protocols designed for everyday practice, farm visits, and smallholder operations.

     •  African swine fever (ASF) (Releasing October)
        Understand ASF global spread, routes of transmission, clinical presentation, and practical on-farm prevention.

     •  Classical swine fever (CSF) (Releasing October)
        Explore the fundamentals of CSF clinical signs and pathology, routes of spread, and real-world strategies for risk reduction.

     •  Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) (Releasing October)
        Gain a structured foundation in FMD identification, global epidemiology, and viral transmission.

     •  Mental health preparedness for foreign animal disease disasters (Releasing November)
        Equip yourself with tools and mental health resources tailored to the real-world stressors during animal health crises.

While modules will be released throughout the fall, pre-registration is open now. Because enrollment is manually reviewed by the CAHFS team to maintain course quality and CE verification, access to the modules is granted within two business days of registration. 

Pre-register here for the Swine FAD Prep Course Hub. For registration assistance or inquiries, email the CAHFS team at [email protected], and follow CAHFS on LinkedIn for exact module release dates and news.