Animal Health Information

RESOLUTION No. XXIII

Adopted by the International Committee of the World Organisation for Animal Health on 30 May 2001

OIE Categorisation of Animal Diseases

CONSIDERING

That one of the main objectives of the OIE is to inform Governments on the occurrence of animal diseases, changes in their distribution world-wide and means of controlling animal diseases,

That the current categorisation of OIE Lists A and B¹ diseases of mammals, birds and bees, and of Diseases of aquatic animals that are Notifiable to the OIE has not been reviewed recently and therefore shows certain inconsistencies and lack of flexibility,

The need to concentrate on the speed of spread of a disease and its zoonotic importance, and the need to link these criteria to the reporting procedures,

The need to categorise new emerging diseases and to re-categorise other diseases that have assumed greater or less epidemiological and zoonotic importance,

The need for consistency of approach between diseases of domestic and wildlife animals and between theInternational Aquatic Animal Health Code² and theInternational Animal Health Code³,

The need to clarify and improve the notification of outbreaks of diseases by OIE Member Countries,

That each of the five OIE Regional Commissions have adopted a Recommendation on the categorisation of animal diseases and that all of these Recommendations are very similar,

All of the Recommendations propose that the OIE develop a new classification system for animal diseases with two new categories that relate to the potential of a disease to spread rapidly,

THE COMMITTEE

1. Requests that the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission ⁴, the International Animal Health Code Commission⁵ and the Fish Diseases Commission ⁶ work together to implement a disease categorisation system based on the Recommendations from the five Regional Commissions.

2. Requests that the following Recommendations of the Regional Commissions be used as the basis for the new classification:

a) The OIE revise the current categorisation system for animal diseases, including the current classification of aquatic animal diseases, to create a single disease list, but with two new categories:

– animal diseases that require immediate notification (within 24 hours) due to their zoonotic and epidemiological significance;

– animal diseases that require periodic notification (at least annually or more often if necessary).

b) The inclusion of any animal disease in the category of immediate notification be based solely on the characteristics mentioned in point (2a) and in particular on its potential for dangerous and widespread dissemination (directly or through vectors).

c) In the short term, the OIE update and review, in relation to the listed diseases, the chapters in the OIEInternational Animal Health Code andAquatic Animal Health Code along the lines indicated in (2a) above.

d) Member Countries notify the first outbreak of a listed disease or a new emerging disease in a country or part of a country previously free from that disease (in the context of regionalisation for a particular disease), within 24 hours.

e) The OIE, as a scientific reference body, establish a framework to raise the awareness of OIE Member Countries of the fundamental purpose of the listing of diseases based on notification obligations, which is to provide timely and quality information in support of disease control strategies.

f) The OIE continue to develop and strengthen its disease databases, and provide its Member Countries with access to these databases to enable them to obtain up to date and quality information on the animal health status world-wide.

3. Requests that the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission, the International Animal Health Code Commission and the Fish Diseases Commission prepare a joint report to be submitted to the International Committee at the 70th General Session. The Commissions should endeavour to include in this report a listing of animal diseases based on the guidelines above and provide an outline for the procedure and timetable for the implementation of the new categorisation system.

4. The Commissions report should be submitted to the Administrative Commission of the OIE in February 2002 in order for them to determine the most appropriate manner to effect the necessary change.

RESOLUTION No. XXXI

Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 27 May 2004

Date for the implementation of the OIE single list of animal diseases
and the new notification system

CONSIDERING

The adoption of Resolution No. XXIII relating to the OIE lists of diseases during the 69th General Session in May 2001,

That one of the principal objectives of the OIE is to inform governments on the occurrence, evolution and distribution of animal diseases and zoonoses throughout the world and on the methods of control and prevention that are implemented,

The results of the work of the Ad hoc Group on the notification of terrestrial animal diseases and pathogens and their examination by the relevant OIE Specialist Commissions,

The scale of the conditions needed to implement the new notification procedures for OIE Member Countries and of the arrangements needed to ensure a smooth transition from the present system,

The adoption of Resolution No. XXVII on amendments to the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Codeduring the 72nd General Session in May 2004,

THE COMMITTEE

DECIDES THAT

1. The present OIE system of notification and epidemiological information, including the annual questionnaire relating to 2004, will remain in force unchanged until 31 December 2004 .

2. A new system of notification and epidemiological information will come into force on 1 January 2005 .

3. With effect from 1 January 2005 all the diseases previously contained in Lists A and B will be combined into a single list, to be known as ‘the OIE List’. The notifications and reports prepared by Member Countries for submission to the OIE will use this single list.

This single list will combine, without any changes, the diseases on Lists A and B until such time as the International Committee adopts a new list.

INFORMATION NOTE

New OIE system for notification of epidemiological information

1. A new system for the notification of epidemiological information will come into effect on 1   January 2005 .

2. In accordance with Chapter 1.1.3. of theTerrestrial Animal Health Code(theCode) adopted in May 2004, the new OIE system of notification and epidemiological information will consist of the following items that OIE Member Countries are required to send to the Central Bureau:

a) an emergency report to notify the OIE Central Bureau, within 24 hours following the occurrence of a disease, an infection or an event of exceptional epidemiological significance, in accordance with the new provisions of theCode adopted in May 2004.

b) weekly follow-up reports to provide information on the evolution of the disease, infection or exceptional epidemiological event until the disease has been eradicated or the situation has stabilised; in all cases a final report is to be submitted.

The new emergency notification system will necessitate the use of new emergency and follow-up report forms. It will come into effect from 1 January 2005 . The new forms will be placed at the disposal of the Member Countries from that date.

c) a six-monthly report on the situation (presence or absence) relating to diseases on the OIE list currently in force. In the event of outbreaks, information is to be provided on the control methods used.

For the first year of implementation, the six-monthly report form, in electronic or paper format, will be available from the beginning of August 2005.

d) an annual questionnaire to be submitted by Member Countries comprising information on their veterinary infrastructure, animal production, human cases of zoonoses and a report on the animal health situation for the past year for diseases that are listed in the OIE/FAO/OMS joint questionnaire but are not on the OIE list currently in force.

As this current annual questionnaire is a joint OIE/FAO/OMS questionnaire, the OIE Central Bureau will, in 2005, negotiate with its partners to reach a new agreement on the questionnaire. The new annual questionnaire for 2005 will be operational at the beginning of February 2006.

The annual questionnaire form relating to animal health information for the year 2004 (World Animal Health) will be sent to the Member Countries during February 2005 and will be identical to the annual questionnaire used for the year 2003. A new annual questionnaire form will be developed for the year 2005 and will be available at the beginning of February 2006.

3. The presentation of animal health information on the OIE Web site will initially be in a transitional form and will be subdivided into two parts:

a) a first part corresponding to data on the animal health situation in Member Countries up to the end of 2004. This information will continue to be presented using the current Handistatus interface,

b) a second part corresponding to data collected within the framework of the new notification and epidemiological information system which will be presented using a new interface to be created by the Central Bureau.

Once the information from the database using the Handistatus interface has been transferred to the database of the new notification and epidemiological information system, only the new interface will be kept.

4. The wealth of information provided by the OIE and the transparency of the worldwide situation regarding animal diseases and zoonoses will also have to be improved:

a) by an undertaking on the part of Member Countries to supply quantitative data on surveillance and control of diseases on the OIE list currently in force, especially when these diseases are compulsorily notifiable in the Member Country in question,

b) by the provision of regularly updated information by each Member Country on the control measures that they apply, if necessary for each disease,

c) by an improvement in procedures for reminding Member Countries failing to supply their emergency, follow-up, final or six-monthly reports, or their annual questionnaires, with a presentation on the OIE Web site of the follow up of notifications and reports submitted by each Country,

d) by strengthening the system of active search, verification and dialogue between the Central Bureau and the Delegates of Member Countries concerning non official information obtained from various sources on the existence of disease outbreaks that have not yet been declared to the OIE.

RESOLUTION No. XXIX

Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 25 May 2005

Date for the implementation of the modified OIE list of animal diseases

CONSIDERING

The adoption of Resolution No. XXIII relating to the OIE lists of diseases during the 69th General Session in May 2001,

That one of the principal objectives of the OIE is to inform Governments on the occurrence, evolution and distribution of animal diseases and zoonoses throughout the world and on the methods of control and prevention that are implemented,

The results of the work of the Ad hoc Group on diseases / pathogenic agent notification and their examination by the relevant OIE Specialist Commissions,

The adoption of Resolution No. XXVI on amendments to the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Codeduring the 73rd General Session in May 2005,

THE COMMITTEE

DECIDES THAT

1. In case of modifications of the list of animal diseases resulting from amendments to theTerrestrial Animal Health Code and /or theAquatic Animal Health Code during each annual General Session the new list come into force on 1 January of the following year.

2. In case of modification the list of animal diseases adopted during each General Session remains in application and unchanged until 31 December of the same year.

RESOLUTION No. XIII

Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 28 May 1993

Animal health data collection systems and information management

CONSIDERING

Animal health data collection and information management systems are essential tools in the control of disease and veterinary service s management

A variety of computer software packages for animal health information systems are in use by many Member Countries, some of which are for similar purposes

Various difficulties and constraints are being encountered by Member Countries in software development in terms of skilled manpower, financial resource limitations, access to technology as well as in the ability to adopt and/or apply new technology

Several developing countries are in need of skills for efficient operation of a national computerised network for the management of animal disease information

The OIE publications World Animal Health, the Bulletin and Disease Information are widely used in the capture of information on disease, especially in developing countries

Difficulties encountered in including information submitted by many Member Countries to enable risk assessment, data retrieval and entry

THE COMMITTEE

RECOMMENDS THAT

1. Urgent consideration be given by Member Countries to implement animal health data collection and information management systems where adequate systems do not already exist. National systems should be designed to meet local needs, taking into account the requirements of international reporting.

2. Installation of systems be undertaken by Member Countries in planned phases following evaluation of needs, operational capability and manpower development needs.

The Member Countries should inform the OIE of their computerised animal health data collection systems, including their specific features so as to enable other Member Countries to be informed of the existence, compatibility and details of such systems through the OIE.

4. The relevant international organisations and groups of Member Countries should, where necessary, identify existing collaborating centres to assist in the development of information systems in Member Countries, either by adoption or adaptation of existing applications or in the development of new systems and should provide the OIE with necessary details.

5. The OIE establish a panel of experts to identify existing bottlenecks and relevant needs for improvement and to arrange attachment training at the OIE or at suitable centres through third party funding, to enable the Member Countries concerned to develop skills to enhance their animal health information and management systems.

6. Member Countries concerned develop competence to include epidemiological parameters such as prevalence, incidence (including rates of change) and population at risk in reporting disease outbreaks, in order to facilitate risk assessment.

7. Information on the international disease situation be held at the OIE in a form easily accessible by Member Countries via electronic media to facilitate direct data entry and retrieval.

RESOLUTION No. XXI

Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 31 May 2001

The Role of Communication Management in Assisting
Veterinary Services

CONSIDERING THAT

The regulation and control of international trade in animals and animal products must be based on rapid and flexible, national and international exchanges of quality technical and scientific information,

The development of information and communication technologies contribute to improving the functioning and the scientific, technical and operational output of Veterinary Services,

The transparency and quality of communication and information management, in particular in crisis situations, are national and international strategic issues,

Member Countries and the OIE must have access to adequate human, technical and financial resources in order to manage information and communication at the national and international level and methodological training in this field is indispensable,

THE COMMITTEE

RECOMMENDS THAT

1.  The promotion and management of information and communication become one of the priorities of Veterinary Services, particularly for reinforcing epidemiosurveillance systems, risk management, emergency response activities, information and involvement of livestock producers and consumers.

2.  Member Countries assess their needs and their human, technical and financial potential available to develop information and communication systems to respond to both crisis situations and routine requirements.

3.  The Government authorities of Member Countries provide adequate support for specific communication objectives of Veterinary Services.

4.  International organisations, including the OIE, support developing countries to strengthen their communication capacities within the Veterinary Services in order to respond to national and international demands.

5.  The Governments of Member Countries encourage the authorities responsible for the initial and continuing training of veterinarians to include information and communication management as part of the training curriculum for veterinarians.

6.  Veterinary Administrations of Member Countries reinforce their capacity to rapidly exchange relevant and reliable information with their national and trading partners, neighbouring countries and international organisations and institutions (in particular with the OIE) and reinforce their relations with the media.

7.  The OIE offer Member Countries technical assistance for the design of communication and information strategies, based on the suitable use of new information and communication technologies.

8.  The OIE augment its capacity to make available information to Member Countries and to the international media, thereby strengthening its public image as the reference organisation for animal health world-wide.

¹ A single list of notifiable diseases since 1 January 2005

²Aquatic Animal Health Code, new denomination since 2003

³ Terrestrial Animal Health Code,new denomination since 2003

⁴ The OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases (SCAD), R. No. XVII, 22 May 2003

⁵ The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (OIE TAHSC), R. No. XVII, 22 May 2003

⁶ The OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (OIE AAHSC), R. No. XVII, 22 May 2003