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Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness And Response Of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences And Training Needs, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco G. Soto Mas

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Veterinarians play a unique role in emergency preparedness and response, and as such federal agencies and academic institutions allocated considerable resources to provide training to enhance their readiness. However, the level of preparedness of veterinarians in many rural regions is yet to be improved. This paper reports an assessment of the bioterrorism preparedness, specifically the experience and training needs of rural veterinarians in North Texas. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a study population that included all veterinarians (N=352) in the 37 counties in Texas Department of State Health Services Regions 2 and 3. Data on veterinarians practicing or …