Final Alex Brooks-Schrauth 1. Regionalization, or zoning, is a method of dividing national populations in to geographical distinct regions.

Such division allows for more appropriate and fitting monitoring and response to a geographically, naturally or artificially, isolated region. Regions are comprised of herds or sub-populations that possess relatively equal risks based on their location within the nation. Such regions allow a nation not only tailored responses, but the ability to certify one region as safe and disease free, though another region may not be. Thus allowing a large nation to divide the land into more manageable subsets, and allow authorities to certify health status regardless if the nation as a whole is not disease free. 2. In the late nineteenth century, British port authorities discovered US/Canadian cattle to be carrying pleuropneumonia, and subsequently imposed strict trade restriction and immediate slaughter provisions. Export revenue greatly suffered within the states as did stock income within Britain, and to assuage some of the fears, the concept of regionalization was presented. Within this concept, presented by a prominent Harvard veterinarian, it was admitted that, yes, some cattle did have the disease, but they were localized to areas on the east coast, and that cattle outside of these regions were safe for export/import. As opposed to treating all US cattle as infected, only eastern cattle should be considered so, and western state cattle should still be thought of as free of pleuropneumonia. Though British authorities rejected this idea, a prominent UK scientist attested to the disease free west and said lesions in these cattle were merely bronchopneumonia. Though regionalization seemed to be a logical end to the dispute, it was not adopted by British authorities; in fact, the dispute was never fully dissolved, merely pushed along the wayside with changing economic stimulus. 3. Regionalization allows nations to certify disease free zones, which is much easier than certifying the nation as a whole; however, challenges still exist in endorsing these zones. First, and foremost, the zone must be established, which is an in depth scientific and surveillance endeavor. The animal sub-population must be clearly distinct from surrounding areas, particular disease epidemiology must be considered, local wildlife reservoirs, and artificial/natural geographic boundaries must come into play. After the zone is established, sufficient monitoring must be able to take place. To do so, a nation must have in place, or implement, an animal identification system at the individual or herd level depending on the disease to be certified free of. In addition, a protection protocol must be established to prevent spread of disease into a disease free zone. This protocol may include vaccines, movement restrictions, testing, disinfection, etc. If by chance a disease enters a zone, a nation must have in place a containment protocol to handle said outbreak. This containment zone must be able to be rapidly implemented and allow for isolation and termination of disease, with clear rules in

reinstituting and certifying a disease free zone with proper containment and abatement of the outbreak. 4. Zoning and regionalization are usually easily defined geographic boundaries within a nation that help to delineate a physical epidemiologically related space to be monitored and controlled. However, these zones can be breached with outside epidemiological contaminants, such as feed, population influx, etc. so enters compartmentalization which divides populations based on husbandry and management techniques. Compartmentalization helps a nation to further define, control, and monitor subsets of related populations within and across zones. A nation may recognize certain compartments as being disease free and insure importing countries of that state of health. A compartment may be defined in numerous ways, such as ownership, breed registry, or membership in associations, but must be readily identifiable as having distinct disease risk separation from animals/sub-populations at higher risk. Such compartments allow a nation to ensure safety of its imports from these subpopulations even though the nation as a whole may not be able to be certified as disease free, thus allowing trade partners to continue to import with confidence in the product. 5. Both zoning and compartmentalization exist to aid nations in their import/export endeavors in having a certifiable disease free product. Zoning is based on geographical barriers, while compartmentalization is often based on husbandry/management practices. While both allow for individual status, compartmentalization may be seen as a more easily controlled division. Diseases do not abide by geographic boundaries, as weeds, insects, and wildlife can migrate without permission across borders. Lack of control of external factors is a large concern in zoning or regionalization, but is taken into account when compartments are assigned. Specific disinfection, records, vaccine protocols, and herd techniques are what prescribe the definition of a compartment. The compartments recognize the potential for vector influx and appropriately institute control and containment measures on a regular basis, which is not the case for zones. Zones, of course, follow national health protocols, but are regionally based; whereas, most compartments are practiced based on standards at or above the national level. 6. Many diseases and/or pests are being monitored or subdivided into zones or compartments by governments, such as BSE, pleuropneomonia, and EIA. Nothing, not even a seemingly perfect compartmentalization plan, is fool proof and unforeseen penetrance may still be seen. However, with proper practices and control measures, such outbreaks may be contained and allow a nation to continue its global exports and relatively regular commerce. A good example of probable compartmentalization success is the relatively new approach to Rift Valley Fever . RFV has an uncanny ability to emerge and establish in previously disease free areas. This ability is due to its broad host range and vector range, and would thus be unsuited to a zonal plan. With this compartmentalization, specific and efficacious vaccines would be

required depending on the infectivity status, constant and regulated monitoring would be required, and control of vectors would be a necessity. RFV currently affects many nations in Africa and the Indian peninsula, but is a concern for all animal producers dealing with the global livestock trade. If a disease doesnt recognize geographical borders, why should we when trying to control it? For this reason, among others, RFV would be a disease whose management and eradication would benefit from compartmentalization.