By now, we all know how contact tracing helps control infections. But did you know that it’s been used for years to track the spread of disease in livestock?

The process begins when a livestock producer sees a problem and reaches out for advice. Health officials will ask where the infected animal came from and whether it comingled with others along the way. Any livestock transported across state lines for sale or show must have an ID tag and a health certificate from a veterinarian. That way, any sick animal that travels between states can be traced back to its origin, and all people along the route can be notified.

The linchpin of this system is the producer with the sick animal, who knows how important it is to reach out to the veterinarian. As we all know, the sooner contact tracing starts, the better.