NAADSM is a flexible tool for simulating the temporal and spatial spread of contagious animal diseases at the herd level in a population of naïve animals. Users may import their own population data and adjust all parameters related to animal population, disease transmission, and disease control to closely mimic the situation in their region of interest. Users may also employ animal data and parameters provided with the program and which mimic the American Midwest.

As a training tool, NAADSM can be used to prepare emergency personnel and other first responders for disease outbreaks. NAADSM can also be used to demonstrate to policy makers the potential scope and impact of an outbreak in their region. As a research tool, NAADSM can be used to compare disease control strategies and estimate the resources needed in the event of an outbreak.

Limitations of NAADSM

NAADSM is not capable of simulating chronic, endemic, fatal, vertically transmitted, sexually transmitted, or vector-borne diseases; diseases with environmental or biologically adapted reservoirs; or diseases that do not confer post-infection immunity.

NAADSM is not intended or recommended for use during an outbreak to predict direction and magnitude of disease spread, or during an outbreak as the basis for policy decisions. Information on disease incidence early in an outbreak is typically inaccurate: simulated outbreaks based on inaccurate information will be useless, and may provide a false sense of security regarding the scope and control of the outbreak.