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The USDA-APHIS-VS Centers for Epidemiology and
Animal Health (CEAH) play an important international role. In 1998,
CEAH was nominated by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)
as a
Collaborating
Center
for Animal Disease Information Systems and Risk Analysis.
Additionally CEAH is called upon by other agencies within the
US
government (APHIS-IS, USAID, FAS) to participate in international
collaborative efforts. The expertise of the staff members in the
field of veterinary epidemiology, spatial analytical techniques,
risk analysis, and information technology is well recognized by the
professional and scientific international community
The Centers' international activities can be
grouped in two broad areas:
OIE
Collaborating
Center
activities
US inter-agency activities
Benefits of International
Collaboration
International collaboration provides multiple
benefits for APHIS in general and CEAH in particular as well as for
recipient countries. Some opportunities and benefits are listed
below:
Ÿ
Opportunity
for leadership for CEAH and VS worldwide
Ÿ
Benefit to OIE member countries by providing training
in risk analysis and disease surveillance methods
Ÿ
Promotion of the development and strengthening of
disease surveillance and risk analysis capabilities in trading
countries
Ÿ
Promotion of transparency in the disease status of
countries thus reducing the risk of disease introduction through
trade
Ÿ
Harmonization of methods
Ÿ
Enhancement of international trade in animals and
animal products and SPS international trade negotiations
Ÿ
Development of professional networks internationally
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