NAHSS Activity Updates, April 2007
McCluskey New Western Region Head
Brian McCluskey is the new director of Veterinary Services' Western Region Office in Fort Collins, CO. McCluskey, who has served as leader of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) since its creation in 2003, played a key role in guiding the development and implementation of the National Animal Health Surveillance System. He began his new duties April 15. Selection of a permanent new NSU leader is pending. Many thanks to Dr. McCluskey for his dedication, efforts, and leadership on behalf of animal health surveillance.
NAHSS Steering Committee Meets
In February, the NAHSS Steering Committee met for two days in Fort Collins . The committee discussed development of the vesicular disease and viral hemorrhagic septicemia surveillance plans, avian influenza surveillance plan implementation and data analysis, the evaluation of brucellosis surveillance, and emerging disease surveillance. Members of the committee were also briefed on the current activities of the National Biosurveillance Integration System (NBIS)/Food and Agriculture Biosurveillance Integration System (FABIS), the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), and National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS). Dr. Larry Granger, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) director, met with the committee to discuss current priorities and future direction of surveillance in VS.
NAHRS 2006 Annual Report Completed
The National Surveillance Unit (NSU), in collaboration with other units at CEAH, has completed the 2006 annual National Animal Health Reporting System (NAHRS) report, a summary review of World Animal Health Organization (OIE) reportable animal diseases. The report is sent 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.