1. Managing Information on Animal Sources of Diseases
Maria Zampaglione
Head, Communication Unit
International Conference on Management of Information Pertaining to Health Crisis
Kuala Lumpur
May 3 – 4, 2007

2. World Organisation for Animal Health - OIE
Contents
OIE - Some history – Historical mandates
The Animal Health Information System
Animal pathogens
Communication as a support for surveillance
Animal health data in communication products
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.

3. World Organisation for Animal Health - OIE
Established in 1924 – fear of a major epizootic in Europe - Rinderpest
Intergovernmental organisation – not UN based
Five permanent Regional Representations: Bamako, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Sofia and Beirut
Four Sub-regional Offices: Bangkok, Gaborone, Panama, Brussels
Five Regional Commissions: Africa, America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East
168 Member Countries in 2007
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. OIE Global Animal Health Messages
Surveillance and control of animal diseases: action for world public health
Protecting world trade and food: action to safeguard consumers
Promoting sustainable development and solidarity: action against poverty
Globalisation and consumerism is conducive to the spread of animal diseases: the OIE, as the hub of the international animal disease surveillance system and the driving force behind world veterinary research, is in the front line against the threat from zoonoses.
2. Animals and their products are central to trade and our food supply and are a key sanitary and economic issue.
The standards developed by the OIE within the framework of the WTO help to ensure food safety and the continuity of trade.
3. In the fight against animal diseases, each country must be effective to ensure protection for all.
In this field, the OIE is at the centre of political and financial solidarity mechanisms on behalf of developing and in transition countries.
4. In our changing world, the zoonotic risk is ever greater.
The OIE makes it a priority to improve sanitary governance and bring Veterinary Services into line with international standards on quality.
Animal health is a global issue: sanitary governance must be improved

5. OIE Global Animal Health Messages
Surveillance and control of animal diseases: action for world public health
Guaranteeing the transparency of animal health information and ensuring early detection and rapid response to animal outbreaks, including zoonoses
Actions linked to this mandate:
prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases
management of the world animal disease surveillance and alert system
scientific information and research
determining the animal health status of Member Countries
international expertise in the management of animal health crises

6. OIE Animal Health Information System
Ensuring transparency on the global animal disease situation: HOW DOES IT WORK?
Member Country reports the animal diseases that it detects on its territory
The OIE disseminates the information to all Member Countries countries (WAHIS)
take the necessary preventive action. This information also includes diseases transmissible to humans and intentional introduction of pathogens

7. OIE Animal Health Information System
Immediate notification and follow-up
Six - monthly reports
Annual report
OIE’s Reference Laboratories and Collaborating centres’ reports
OIE-Info distribution list : Alert messages  
World Animal Health
(publication)
Handistatus
World Animal Health Information

8. Significant Spread within Animal Populations
OIE Animal Health Information System Criteria for listing a disease/infection within the OIE List
Basic Criteria
(always considering “worst case” scenario)
Parameters (at least one “yes” answer means that the criterion has been met)
Has international spread been proven on three or more occasions? OR
Are more than three 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 a significant number of countries with susceptible populations have reported absence of the disease for several consecutive years?
International Spread
Has transmission to humans been proven? (with the exception of artificial circumstances) AND
Is human infection associated with severe consequences? (death or prolonged illness)
Zoonotic Potential
Does the disease exhibit significant mortality at the level of a country or compartment? AND/OR
Does the disease exhibit significant morbidity (infected animals) at the level of a country or compartment?
Significant Spread within Animal Populations
Emerging Diseases (newly recognised pathogen or known pathogen behaving differently)
Does the disease exhibit significant mortality at the level of a country or compartment? AND/OR
Does the disease exhibit significant morbidity (infected animals) at the level of a country or compartment?

9. Animal Health Information
General classification of threats related to animal diseases
Animal to animal transmission
Diseases exotic to country
Diseases eradicated at high cost
Diseases with specific vaccines needed for control
Animal to human transmission
Diseases with pandemic potential
Diseases with high/sudden human mortality
Diseases with slow but progressive human illness/mortality
Disease with pandemic potential (AI)
Disease with high mortality (RVF)
Disease with slow mortality (rabies)

10. Animal Health Information
Most common sources of infection
Incidental (‘Normal’/expected)
External (Uncontrolled/difficult to control)
Wild animals, migratory birds
IIlegal trade
Deliberate spread - Agroterrorism

11. Animal Health Information

12. Animal Health Information
Why are we concerned about the prevention and control of major animal diseases ?

13. Animal Health Information
Because of the zoonotic potential of animal pathogens
60% of human pathogens are zoonotic
80% of animal pathogens are multi-host
75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic
80% of agents having a potential bioterrorist use are zoonotic pathogens
Nearly all new human diseases originate from animal reservoirs
Diseases can now spread faster across the world than the average incubation period of most diseases

14. The case of avian influenza and BSE

15. The value of Animal Health Data in Communication
OIE provides official data that respond to global demands for current, validated, scientific information
Makes information derived from the data useful at all levels
Valid data-based communication to enforce the implementation of measures

16. The value of Animal Health Data in Communication
Examples of facts that can be extracted from available OIE data:
Multiple data sources available
Total number of countries reporting rabies in 2006
Total number of cases of BSE in the world from 2000 to 2007
Total number of outbreaks of HPAI occurring in wildlife versus domestic from 2003 – 2007
Comparative data – number of reported outbreaks and control measures versus size of veterinary services
WAHID
Handistatus II (data until 2004)
Actual notifications, reports
Manually generated summaries
Historical published data – library sources
Examples of actual requests
Work to find key facts for general disease cards
Data inquiry:
Financial Times – Outbreaks of Avian Influenza in poultry – discrepancies noted in table.
Possible replies:
Domestic summary vs wildlife summary on one hand versus collective summary in list of Most recent official reports
Incorrectly included country with H5 infection not H5N1
Spans 2003 – 2007 – cannot quickly validate information because it is coming from different sources
2) Query from communications manager, United States’ National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Data in BSE cases for 2006 differs from report from European Committee
Explanations included with table, some resolved with conversation with AH Information Department; one unresolved

17. Communication Zoonoses account for 75% of human diseases:
Valuable animal health data are key in supporting the implementation of control measures and thus in combating negative effects of animal diseases

18. Communication OIE Animal Health Information System
TERIMA KASIH BANYAK-BANYAK or
Thank you for your attention
Maria Zampaglione
Head, Communication Unit, OIE