Veterinary Public Health Activities and Management of the Livestock Sector during Earthquakes and Snowstorms in the Abruzzo Region—Italy, January 2017

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This article describes the actions that were taken to provide assistance to farm animals during and in the aftermath of earthquakes and snowstorms that hit the Abruzzo region in January 2017. This experience showed the importance of an integrated emergency management response system. An updated information system, in addition to punctual data management, allows for the rationalization of resources and the organization of necessary interventions. This knowledge will be fundamental to the involvement and integration of Regional Veterinary Services (RVS) and the relevant actors in animal welfare in emergency management plans. ABSTRACT: In 2017 the Abruzzo region, located in central Italy, was struck by a sequence of four moderately powerful seismic events (5.0 magnitude on Richter scale), in addition to heavy snowfall that caused a state of emergency affecting the resident population and farm animals. A total of 282 stables were reported to have collapsed or been damaged and several animals (224 cows, 4025 ewes, 40,725 chickens, 22 horses and 3092 pigs) were killed. The Istituto Zooprofilattico of Abruzzo and Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM)—National Reference Center for Veterinary Urban Hygiene and Non-Epidemic Emergencies (IUVENE), played a crucial role in planning, coordinating and controlling veterinary activities during these catastrophic events. Operational and information tools were used to manage the needs of the communities involved, as well as to prioritize the veterinary interventions, record information, provide real-time data access, and produce reporting maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) layers. These events have highlighted how the integration of veterinary services into disaster management efforts can play an important role in protecting the health and welfare of animals, whilst also restoring economic activity and community life.