NAHSS Activity Update, July 2006
The National Center for Animal Health Surveillance has completed the 2005 annual National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS) report, a summary review of World Animal Health Organization (OIE) reportable animal diseases monitored and reported. The report has been mailed to participating State Veterinarians and Area Veterinarians in Charge. NAHRS is a collaborative program between participating States, the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the United States Animal Health Association, and the USDA. NAHRS is designed to gather summary level data on the confirmed presence of OIE reportable diseases of cattle, sheep and goats, horses, pigs, birds, and fish.
Scrapie Surveillance Evaluation
The Scrapie Surveillance Evaluation Working Group has completed a 12-month pilot test of the NSU's draft protocol for evaluating animal health surveillance systems. A request for evaluation from the National Scrapie Eradication Program staff, coupled with the need to pilot the evaluation protocol, led to the selection of scrapie as the first VS surveillance program to be evaluated.
The National Surveillance Unit has launched the U.S. Animal Health and Productivity Surveillance Inventory. The inventory Web application is an easy-to-use searchable catalog that provides summary information about surveillance and monitoring programs, epidemiologic studies, and other activities related to animal health and productivity in the United States. The inventory provides users with an efficient source of information about animal health surveillance programs and activities both internal and external to USDA, and can be accessed from http://nsu.aphis.usda.gov/inventory.