The Center for Food Security and Public Health at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine has developed 90 fact sheets and 45 PowerPoint presentations on diseases that affect animals and people. This information can be downloaded for free at the CFSPH Web site by logging on to www.cfsph.iastate.edu and clicking on "Animal Diseases."

The fact sheets cover foreign animal diseases, agents of bioterrorism and agroterrorism, and reportable diseases. Fact sheets on other zoonotic diseases are being added. Information about the resources on this Web site has been shared with state veterinarians, the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, extension veterinarians, and others. Veterinarians are encouraged to visit the site for information on specific diseases.

Dr. James A. Roth, director of the center, said, "We are pleased to be able to make these materials available for veterinarians to use as a resource and to educate clients. We welcome input from veterinarians on increasing the usefulness of these tools."

The Web site was developed as part of the center's awareness education goals. The CFSPH was established in July 2002 with funding from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is designated as a CDC Center for Public Health Preparedness for Veterinary Medicine and Zoonotic Diseases.

Other CFPSH activities detailed on the Web site include a "train the trainer" program with 300 trainers located around the country, and a master's of public health degree program for veterinarians. The center has also developed materials on biological risk management for veterinarians. The risk management materials are being beta tested before release.

Fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations can be downloaded for free at the CFSPH Web site, www.cfsph.iastate.edu. Click on "Animal Diseases"