The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) and the West VirginiaDepartment of Agriculture (WVAg) will form a collaborative partnership called the WestVirginia Food and Feed Rapid Response Team (WVRRT). The overarching goal of theteam will be preventing and reducing illness. The WVRRT will include staff fromWVBPH and WVAg which encompasses Food, Feed, Animal Health, Epidemiology,Labs, and the Office of Environmental Health Readiness Coordinator. The WVRRT will improve upon current programs, integrate emergency responseplans, enhance capabilities of staff through joint training and develop methods ofproviding public and vendor education related to illness prevention. The WVRRT willenhance conformance with the Manufactured Foods Regulatory Program Standards. The WVRRT plans to hire a consultant to work with WVBPH and WVAg to bringtogether the capacities and capabilities of each partner. Each agency has regulations,policies and procedures in place with overarching goals for the prevention of disease. Aconsultant will pull best practices from each program and assist with the development ofa multiagency response for any food or feed illness or threat. Other proposed work include food outbreak investigation training, food, feed, andenvironmental sampling training, as well as purchase required equipment and test kits,develop a database of manufacturers who sell by-product as animal feed and provideeducational materials for the manufacturer and the farmer, coordinate and updateagencies emergency response plans in relation to food and feed threats or outbreaks,and collect GPS data and develop GIS mapping of all feed and food manufacturers,warehouses, and distributors. The WVRRT will enhance the ability of WVBPH and WVAg to protect the healthof humans and animals. Recognized cases of illness will be reduced through preventionand rapid response to outbreak and threats related to feed and food. All proposedteam members are excited about the goals that this funding will bring to fruition.
The West Virginia Rapid Response Team (WVRRT) will enhance the ability of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH) and West Virginia Department of Agriculture ( WVAg) to work jointly to improve capabilities for effective, rapid responses to feed and food emergencies. Improved collaboration and open communication will create an environment of shared goals and responsibility. Best practices from WVBPH and WVAg will be implemented in prevention of feed and food related illness.
