National Animal Health Surveillance System Outlook
Issue 14, April 2007
The NAHSS Outlook is an electronic communication with information about the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) that is distributed via email to all members of Veterinary Services. Contact the National Surveillance Unit to provide comments and suggestions for future topics.
Articles in This Issue:
- Interagency Analysis IDs Areas, Populations at Risk for Avian Influenza
- VS Initiates Brucellosis Surveillance Review
- Pathways Assessment Mapping Tool Aids Risk Analysis
- Monthly Avian Influenza Surveillance Reports Available Online
Click here for updates on the new Western Region Director, NAHSS Steering Committee meeting, and the new NAHRS annual report.
Interagency Analysis IDs Areas, Populations at Risk for Avian Influenza
Increased attention on the need to enhance avian influenza surveillance in domestic poultry and migratory waterfowl led an interagency team to identify areas of highest concern for surveillance efforts. The team studied bird-banding data in conjunction with census data to rank counties with a high prevalence of domestic poultry production and relatively high numbers of migrant waterfowl. Read more about the analysis here.
VS Initiates Brucellosis Surveillance Review
A Veterinary Services working group has begun reviewing the current surveillance activities for bovine brucellosis and is developing a plan for a more efficient, cost-effective surveillance program. The group expects to present its preliminary recommendations later this year with phased-in implementation beginning in Fiscal Year 2008. Here is more on brucellosis surveillance.
Pathways Assessment Mapping Tool Aids Risk Analysis
CEAH's Center for Animal Disease Information and Analysis has developed a pathways assessment and mapping tool. The new tool will help analysts assess the potential pathways through which a foreign animal disease agent might enter and establish an outbreak or focus of disease. Complete story here.
Monthly Avian Influenza Surveillance Reports Available Online
VS collaborates with States and the commercial poultry industry to monitor and test domestic poultry and wild birds for occurrence of avian influenza. One industry partner is the National Chicken Council, which represents the U.S. broiler industry and conducts rigorous testing for AI. Monthly reports and maps summarizing AI testing efforts in meat-type chickens is now available on the NAHSS Poultry Monitoring and Surveillance Web site (www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/poultry/ ). Here is more on these reporting efforts.