Surveillance Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is surveillance?
The systematic, continuous or repeated, measurement, collection, collation, analysis, interpretation and timely dissemination of animal health and welfare related data from defined populations.
Essential for describing health hazard occurrence and to contribute to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of risk mitigation measures
What are the four main objectives of animal health surveillance?
If disease is present:
1. Measure prevalence and distribution of the disease
2. Detect cases of the disease in order to take appropriate action
If disease is absent:
3. Demonstrate freedom from disease
4. Early detection of new and exotic diseases (or re-emergence of a disease that was previously present)
Imagine you are asked to design a surveillance system able to detect the incursion of an exotic disease into a developing country
What would be an appropriate objective for your surveillance system?
Early detection of the exotic (new) disease is likely to be the most appropriate objective
A possible acceptable alternative would be case finding of infected animals to facilitate control, although this is usually for endemic infections and so you would need to appropriately justify why you choose this.
Imagine you are asked to design a surveillance system able to detect the incursion of an exotic disease into a developing country
Which surveillance components (activities) would you prioritise and why?
Some suggestions
- Statutory notification (by owners, vets, border control etc) if clinical signs are clear
- Voluntary notification by public: If clinical signs are obvious
- Statutory notification by laboratories to central authority
- Meat inspection controls: If pathology is obvious
- Risk-based survey - eg. testing of imported animals if its the only risk pathway
- Sentinel: If specific group or area is at a higher risk than others, repeated testing or surveys in this population may provide warning of incursion
What is active surveillance?
Provision of data is initiated by researcher
What is passive surveillance?
Provision of data is initiated by observer
Passive or active?
Statutory notification (by owners, vets, border control etc) if clinical signs are clear
Passive
Passive or Active?
Voluntary notification by public: If clinical signs are obvious
Passive
Passive or Active?
Statutory notification by laboratories to central authority
Passive
Passive or Active?
Meat inspection controls: If pathology is obvious
Passive
Passive or Active?
Risk-based survey - eg. testing of imported animals if its the only risk pathway
Active
Passive or Active?
Sentinel: If specific group or area is at a higher risk than others, repeated testing or surveys in this population may provide warning of incursion
Active
