The Centre for Veterinary Disaster Medicine
Project overview
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Short summary
The Centre for Veterinary Disaster Medicine (CVK) strengthens Sweden’s capacity to protect animal health, animal welfare and food supply in peace, crisis and war by bringing together expertise and building national preparedness for managing animals during major emergencies.
The Centre for Veterinary Disaster Medicine will enhance society’s ability to safeguard animal health, animal welfare, and ensure food security and the production of safe food in peacetime, crisis and war. Animals play a central role in society – from food-producing animals and service animals to companion animals that contribute to human well-being and resilience.
Disasters such as fires, floods, and chemical, biological or radiological incidents can cause extensive and complex injuries to animals. To reduce suffering and maintain critical societal functions, specialised veterinary disaster medicine expertise is required. Unlike human medicine, Sweden currently lacks a national knowledge centre for veterinary disaster medicine.
Within a three-year project funded by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency, the establishment of the Centre for Veterinary Disaster Medicine (CVK) is being planned. The Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA) leads the project together with the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare (SCAW) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The project also involves the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Swedish Food Agency, the District Veterinarians, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Blue Star, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and the Centre for Disaster Medicine at the University of Gothenburg.
The centre will gather expertise, support education and training, and provide assistance during mass casualty incidents and animal evacuations. Responsibility for a future national knowledge centre is expected to be shared between SVA and SLU in collaboration with several authorities and organisations. Through this initiative, Sweden’s total defence and societal capacity to manage animals in crises and heightened preparedness will be strengthened.
Project Managers:
Contact person at the Department of Clinical Sciences: Renée Båge renee.bage@slu.se +4618672507
Contact at the Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare: Lotta Berg lotta.berg@slu.se +4651167107