General objective

The Collaborating Center has four primary objectives: (1) Review, evaluate and adapt methodologies and approaches to enhance animal disease surveillance systems and the risk analysis process, (2) Promote the harmonization of methods applied in disease surveillance and risk analysis, (3) Provide technical cooperation to OIE Member countries on an Ad hoc basis in areas related to animal disease surveillance systems and risk analysis, and (4) Establish a critical mass of trained individuals in OIE member countries to improve the quality of animal disease surveillance and risk analysis.

The activities are grouped under the following:

• Revision and assessment of methodologies

• Harmonization and information dissemination

• Technical cooperation

• Training

  • Introduction to veterinary epidemiology and risk analysis 
    (in Spanish) August 5-16 2002, Fort Collins, Colorado
    

  • International course on detection and assessment of emerging animal health issues. September 17-19 2002, Fort Collins, Colorado.
    

• Cooperation with other collaborating centers

1.      Revision and assessment of methodologies

Objective

Review, evaluate and adapt methodologies and approaches to enhance animal disease surveillance systems and the risk analysis process.

Background

Disease surveillance and risk analysis are continuously evolving and need to adapt existing methods and create new approaches to meet the requirements of international trade in animals and animal products governed by the SPS agreement. CEAH has played and will continue to play a leadership role internationally in the development and application of disease surveillance and risk analysis. Emerging diseases are a continuous threat to public and animal health worldwide; the marked increase in international trade requires that surveillance systems develop methods that ensure the early detection of emerging problems.

Strategy

All of the activities to meet this objective are embedded in CEAH’s mission. CEAH’s three centers collectively contribute information to assist VS’ Deputy Administrator make scientifically based decisions. Each center needs to review, evaluate and adapt methods and techniques needed in the context of international trade. The objective is to develop and maintain an international network of institutions involved in risk analysis and disease surveillance both at the government level, academia, other OIE Collaborating Centers and international organizations. Additionally CEAH organizes international workshops to address specific topics in disease surveillance, risk analysis and emerging issues.

Activities

• Develop methods and approaches in risk analysis and disease surveillance
• Develop methods for the early detection and assessment of emerging issues
• Develop approaches to conduct statistically based nationwide commodity based surveys

Risk analysis and disease surveillance

The Center for Animal Disease Information and Analysis (CADIA) is responsible for conducting risk analyses within CEAH. It is CADIA’s risk analysis team role to review the relevant international standards for risk analysis and regionalization and develop and adapt methodologies and approaches used internationally. Animal disease surveillance is a key element in the recognition of disease-free zones and risk analysis; CADIA has a role in analyzing disease surveillance information and methods utilized internationally. Additionally, CADIA provides leadership in efforts to design an integrated disease surveillance system for Veterinary Services.

Detection and assessment of emerging issues

The Center for Emerging Issues (CEI) has the primary responsibility of detecting the occurrence of animal diseases worldwide and providing recommendations on the appropriate course of action that APHIS-VS should follow. In addition, CEI analyzes current trends that may have an impact on the way Veterinary Services conducts its business in the future.

Nationwide commodity based surveys

The Center for Animal Health Monitoring (CAHM) designs and conducts nationwide commodity based surveys that look on current practices within industry as well as disease occurrence in animal populations. The results of these surveys help determine prevalence rates at national and regional levels and help the industry detect differences in production practices in the country.

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2.      Harmonization and information dissemination

Objective

Promote the harmonization of methods applied in disease surveillance and risk analysis. 

Background

Risk analysis in animal health is an evolving tool; as such it is important that the approaches that are being developed worldwide are compatible. This will ensure greater transparency and will provide a structured approach to decision making. Similarly, surveillance approaches are being adapted to provide valid information in a cost-effective manner. There is a need to ensure that national surveillance systems provide essential information needed to conduct risk assessments. 

Strategy

Develop a network of risk analysts to analyze existing guidelines and develop a harmonized approach applicable internationally.  

Activities

OIE Regional Commission for the
Americas Working Group on Risk Analysis

The OIE Regional Commission for the Americas created a working group on risk analysis with the mandate to interpret the Risk Analysis Chapter in the OIE Code, train in risk analysis methods, develop practical guidelines for risk analysis, provide methodological guidance for risk analysis studies and offer methodological reviews of risk analyses submitted for consideration. This Group has met several times and has created a website containing information related to its work (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oieamericas/oieindex.htm).

Development of training materials
on basic epidemiology and risk analysis

A collaborative effort has been established with the Istituto Zooprofilactico Sperimentalle dell’Abruzzo e del Molise (IZT), the OIE Collaborating Center on Epidemiology and Organization of Veterinary Services in Developing Countries in Teramo, Italy, to develop harmonized training materials on basic epidemiology and risk analysis. Most of this material already exists through a project funded by FAO, WHO and IZT.

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3.      Technical cooperation

Objective

Provide technical cooperation to the OIE Central Bureau and OIE Member countries on an Ad hoc basis in areas related to animal disease surveillance systems and risk analysis.

Background

The OIE frequently convenes Ad hoc groups to deal with specific issues; these groups are disbanded when their mandate is accomplished. OIE Member countries often require assistance for specific projects related to the implementation of methodologies or in-country training. CEAH is open to such requests as long as they are within the scope of its activities as an OIE Collaborating Center. 

Strategy

In general, priority will be given to projects of a regional nature and to requests from the Central Bureau, however, individual country requests may be considered. Requests from countries will be addressed as resources permit.

Activities

Collaboration with the OIE Central Bureau

CEAH participates regularly at OIE’s request on working groups and Ad hoc groups convened by the director general.

Collaboration with OIE member countries

To date collaborative efforts have been initiated with several countries including Colombia , Uruguay and Italy.

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4.      Training  

Objective

Establish a critical mass of trained individuals in OIE member countries to improve the quality of animal disease surveillance and risk analysis.  

Target audience

Official veterinarians directly responsible or involved with disease surveillance and/or risk analysis.  

Background

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization requires that import trade requirements should be science based, non-discriminatory, transparent and if not based on the accepted international standards, they should be based on a risk analysis. This has placed a strong pressure on veterinary services worldwide, to strengthen disease surveillance systems and develop risk analysis methods and skills. One of the main roles of the OIE Collaborating Center for Animal Disease Surveillance Systems and Risk Analysis is to provide training to achieve this goal.