1. World Animal Health Information System
Dr. Alejandro Thiermann
World Organisation for Animal Health
International Animal Health Regulations
and the
World Animal Health Information System
(WAHIS) 

2. Contents Introduction Criteria for listing diseases
Notification procedures
Outputs of WAHIS=WAHID Interface
Active search of unofficial information
Comparison between IHR and OIE’s

3. SOME KEY FACTS
Established in 1924 – fear of animal panzootic in Europe - Rinderpest
Intergovernmental organisation – not UN based
Objectives:
ensure transparency in the global animal disease and zoonoses situation
provide expertise/encourage solidarity in the control of animal diseases
improve the legal framework and resources of Veterinary Services
safeguard global trade by establishing international health standards
provide a better guarantee of the safety of food of animal origin
Promote animal welfare through a science based approach
172 Members as of 2008
Go through OIE objectives that are related to the subject of this conference
Guarantee the transparancy of the world zoosanitary information
To encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases : avian influenza does not need a passport
To provide healt standards for international trade: to give the CVO’ s recommendations on the trade of animals and animal products in case of an outbreak of one of the listed diseases. This will provide unjustified trade barriers, lead to fairer trade and is of benefit for the developing countries.
Provide a better guarantee of the safety of food of animal origin.

4. SIGNIFICANT SPREAD IN NAIVE POPULATIONS?
Criteria for listing a disease
INTERNATIONAL SPREAD?
Has international spread been proven on 3 or more occasions? OR
Are more than 3 countries with populations of susceptible animals free of the disease or facing impending freedom (based on Code provisions, especially Appendix 3.8.1)? OR
Do OIE annual reports indicate that at least 3 countries with susceptible populations are reporting absence of the disease?
EMERGING?
(A newly recognised pathogen or known pathogen behaving differently)
Is there apparent zoonotic properties or rapid spread?
EXCLUDE NO
YES
ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL?
Has transmission to humans been proven? (with the exception of artificial circumstances) AND
Is human infection associated with severe consequences? (death or prolonged illness)
SIGNIFICANT SPREAD IN NAIVE POPULATIONS?
Does the disease exhibit significant mortality at level of a country or zone? OR
Does the disease exhibit significant morbidity at the level of a country or zone? NO
INCLUDE
YES NO
EXCLUDE
YES
INCLUDE

5. Notification procedures
Types of reports
Immediate notification of disease, infection or unusual epidemiological events
Weekly reports: Follow-up to the immediate notification
Final report:
- if the outbreaks have ended (event closed)
- if the situation becomes endemic
Six-monthly report
Annual report

6. Emerging disease
means a new infection resulting from the evolution or change of an existing pathogenic agent, a known infection spreading to a new geographic area or population, or a previously unrecognized pathogenic agent or disease diagnosed for the first time and which has a significant impact on animal or public health.

7. Immediate notification
What needs immediate notification - within 24 hours
1 - The first occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country or zone/compartment
2 - The re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country or zone/ compartment following a report declaring previous outbreak(s) eradicated
3 - The first occurrence of a new strain of a pathogen of a listed disease in a country or zone/compartment

8. Immediate notification
4 - A sudden and unexpected increase in morbidity or mortality caused by an existing listed disease
5 - Evidence of change in the epidemiology of a listed disease (e.g. host range, pathogenicity, strain of causative pathogen), in particular if there is a zoonotic impact.
6 - An emerging [non listed] disease with significant morbidity / mortality or zoonotic potential

9. Published OIE Alerts

10. Results of notifications

11. on the absence or presence of listed diseases
Six-monthly Report
on the absence or presence of listed diseases
Part 1: Qualitative information
disease occurrence,
control, prophylaxis and prevention measures,
indication of the type of report to use to notify diseases or infections/infestations present in the country
Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : [source :
Objective 2 : To collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information
The OIE collects and analyses the latest scientific information on animal disease control. This information is then made available to the Members to help them to improve the methods used to control and eradicate these diseases. Guidelines are prepared by the network of 156 OIE Collaborating Centres and Reference Laboratories across the world.
Scientific information is also disseminated through various works and periodicals published by the OIE, notably the Scientific and Technical Review (3 issues a year).
Objectif 2 : Collecter, analyser et diffuser l'information scientifique vétérinaire
L'OIE collecte et analyse toutes les nouvelles informations scientifiques relatives à la lutte contre les maladies animales. Il les fournit ensuite aux Pays Membres pour qu'ils améliorent les méthodes qu'ils utilisent pour contrôler et éradiquer ces maladies. Des lignes directrices sont préparées à cet effet par le réseau des 156 Centres Collaborateurs et Laboratoires de Référence de l'OIE présents dans le monde entier.
L'information scientifique est aussi diffusée grâce à différents ouvrages et périodiques édités par l'OIE, notamment la Revue scientifique et technique (3 numéros par an).
Speaker’s comments / Commentaires du conférencier :

12. Part 2: Quantitative information
Six-monthly Report
Part 2: Quantitative information
Template 1: By lowest level Administrative Division and by month 
Template 2: For the whole Country by month
Template 3: By lowest level Administrative Division for the six months period
Template 4: For the whole Country for the six months period
Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : [source :
Objective 2 : To collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information
The OIE collects and analyses the latest scientific information on animal disease control. This information is then made available to the Members to help them to improve the methods used to control and eradicate these diseases. Guidelines are prepared by the network of 156 OIE Collaborating Centres and Reference Laboratories across the world.
Scientific information is also disseminated through various works and periodicals published by the OIE, notably the Scientific and Technical Review (3 issues a year).
Objectif 2 : Collecter, analyser et diffuser l'information scientifique vétérinaire
L'OIE collecte et analyse toutes les nouvelles informations scientifiques relatives à la lutte contre les maladies animales. Il les fournit ensuite aux Pays Membres pour qu'ils améliorent les méthodes qu'ils utilisent pour contrôler et éradiquer ces maladies. Des lignes directrices sont préparées à cet effet par le réseau des 156 Centres Collaborateurs et Laboratoires de Référence de l'OIE présents dans le monde entier.
L'information scientifique est aussi diffusée grâce à différents ouvrages et périodiques édités par l'OIE, notamment la Revue scientifique et technique (3 numéros par an).
Speaker’s comments / Commentaires du conférencier :

13. Annual report Information on Vet. Services’ staff
Information on non OIE-listed diseases
Information on Vet. Services’ staff
National Reference Laboratories
Livestock census (by lowest level Admin Division)
Zoonoses (human cases)
Production of vaccines

14. WAHIS allows processing of all kinds of reports
How to notify?
Forms
WAHIS web application (login, password)
Detailed Guidelines
Nominated focal point (login, password)
Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : [source :
Objective 1 : To ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation
Each Member undertakes to report the animal diseases that it detects on its territory. The OIE then disseminates the information to other countries, which can take the necessary preventive action. This information also includes diseases transmissible to humans and intentional introduction of pathogens. Information is sent out immediately or periodically depending on the seriousness of the disease. This objective applies to disease occurrences both naturally occurring and deliberately caused. Dissemination is via the OIE Web site, and the following periodicals: Disease Information, published weekly and the annual compilation World Animal Health.
Objectif 1 : Garantir la transparence de la situation des maladies animales et des zoonoses dans le monde
Chaque Pays Membre s'engage à déclarer les maladies animales qu'il détecte sur son territoire. L'OIE diffuse alors l'information à tous les autres pays afin qu'ils puissent se protéger. Cette information concerne également les maladies transmissibles à l'homme. Elle est diffusée en urgence ou de façon différée selon la gravité de la maladie. Ces objectifs de surveillance et de suivi s'appliquent à la fois aux événements sanitaires naturels ou intentionnels. Les supports de diffusion sont le site Web de l'OIE, le courrier électronique et les périodiques suivants : Informations sanitaires, publiées chaque semaine, et le recueil annuel Santé animale mondiale.
Speaker’s comments / Commentaires du conférencier :
WAHIS allows processing of all kinds of reports

15. WAHIS online application
An access (login, password) is given to each Delegate, who has the possibility to create an access to his/her nominee(s).
The system uses maps of first administrative divisions and
geo-coordinates for outbreak location(s)

16. WAHIS online notification
Provides countries with a simpler and quicker method of sending sanitary information => compliance with the international standards
Allows countries to benefit from the new capabilities put in place to produce essential and useful information without errors and delays (near real time information)
May 2008: 87 % of reports submitted electronically through WAHIS 13 % processed by the OIE Information Department

17. The OIE’s Early Warning System
Alert messages

18. The OIE’s Early Warning System
Weekly Disease information

19. World Animal Health publication
WAHID interface

20. Exceptional epidemiological events: examples (2007-2008)
Bluetongue
HPAI 8 1 1

21. OIE Monitoring System: examples (2007)
Disease distribution BT
FMD 1 2-
Control measures
Routine vaccination: Brucella melitensis
Routine Vaccination: FMD

22. Annual report: Zoonosis in Humans

23. Active search of un-official information and rumours
Scientific publications, Promed, GPHIN, Copernic, news, lay publications…
published after verification and Member confirmation

24. Results of tracking activities
Year
No. of verification requests
Answers
No answers
Official notifications
Invalidated non-official information
2002 32
18 (56%)
14 (43%) 0%
2003 29
24 (79.2%)
5 (20.8%)
14 (48.27%)
30.93%
2004 85
67 (78.8%)
18 (21.2%)
39 (48.75%)
30.05%
2005 97
74 (76.28%)
23 (23.71%)
36 (37.11%)
39.17%
2006
113
80 (70.79%)
33 ( 29.20%)
66 (58.40%)
12.38%
2007
140
103 (73.57%)
37(26.42%)
71(50.71%)
31.06%

25. The Joint FAO/OIE/WHO Global Early Waning System and Response for Major Animal Diseases and Zoonosis (GLEWS)

26. Non official information
WHO
(zoonosis)
FAO
OIE
Tracking component
Non official information
Alert : event of
common interest ?
No joint
action No No
Additional
data ?
Yes
Seek additional
information/data
Determine extent of
response required
(response protocol)
Yes
GLEWS Platform
(web based)
For FAO :
FAO Regional officers,
FAO Reference laboratories
FAO Field projects, Expert missions
Yes
Verification
required ?
Response
required ? No
Yes
For OIE :
OIE Delegates, OIE Regional representations
OIE Reference laboratories, Expert missions No
For WHO :
WHO Regional representations,
WHO Country representations, Expert missions
No joint
action

27. Similarities between IHR and WAHIS
Article 2: Purpose and scope (prevent, protect, control and provide response)
Article 3: Principles (recognizing sovereign rights to legislate)
Article 4: Responsible authorities (establish IHR focal points)
Article 5: Surveillance (develop capacity to detect, notify, report events)
Article 6: Notification (shall notify by most efficient means)
Article 7: Information sharing during unexpected event (in case of unexpected PH event, shall provide WHO …)
Article 8: Consultation (when not requiring notification, focal point shall keep informed)

28. Similarities between IHR and WAHIS
Article 9: Other reports (reports from sources other than notifications)
Article 10: Verification (within 24 hours, if not collaborate…WHO will share)
Article 11: Provision of information by WHO ( if not agreed by SP, WHO shall not make information available to other SP until such time as: (a)…(d)
Article 12: Determination of a PH emergency (DG shall determine whether an event constitutes)
Article 13: Public health response (each SP shall develop, strengthen, maintain capacity)

29. Where are the differences
WAHIS is taken as part of the overall OIE obligations
WAHID provides benefits to all Members
Continue to emphasize on incentives to report
Strengthening of legal enforceability at national level
Transparent reporting has trade benefits
Reference laboratory obligations to notify and share

30. Incentives to participate
Capacity building: (Trust Fund)
PVS evaluation
Gap Analysis
Legislation Assistance
Twinning
Early detection, rapid response = Global public good
Compensation mechanisms
Vaccine banks

31. How do we get there? Paradigm shift from detecting at the border to
transparency of reporting through incentives
The ultimate goal of rapid notification will result from
collaboration between the relevant organizations

32. Thank you for your attention
World Organisation for Animal Health
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale
Organizacion Mundial de Sanidad Animal
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