Purdue veterinary preparedness program certified

West Lafayette, Ind. - 11/6/07 - National certification has been awarded to a Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine program aimed to prepare veterinarians in case of a major animal health emergency.

Open since May 2006, the Veterinary Homeland Security Certificate Program -- a graduate-level, distance-learning opportunity -- was granted certification this month because it complies with National Animal Health Emergency System guidelines .

Coursework was reviewed and then approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service . The program has attracted 62 students from 27 states and is managed by the Purdue Homeland Security Institute .

Participants, which include professionals from private practice, USDA , military, public health, animal health and veterinary schools, have four years to complete nine courses on topics including anthrax, rabies, plague and swine disease.