Excerpt from the report Foreword: This is the fourth annual report produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the status of animal health in the United States. The report includes updates on new and existing programs, conducted by APHIS’ Veterinary Services (VS) staff, that seek to maintain healthy livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations. In addition, the report presents information about emergency management efforts, highlights key epidemiological events of 2007, and provides an overview of the Nation’s animal health surveillance activities. The 2007 Animal Health Report is intended to offer an in-depth look at the status of USDA programs and strategies that help ensure the health of U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.