This overview describes recent incursion of exotic animal diseases. Important lessons can be learned from these examples. U.S. agriculture is very vulnerable to the introduction of a foreign animal disease. Outbreaks can occur when a pathogen is inadvertently introduced in contaminated material carried by an international traveler, or in imported animals or animal products. Foreign animal diseases could enter the U.S. vectored by wild animals, insects , or migratory birds or they could be intentionally introduced to cause severe economic problems or to target human health. Descriptions of recent outbreaks of foreign animal disease in various countries and the impact they had are presented here to raise understanding of the importance of these diseases and their detection, prevention, and control.