National Animal Health Surveillance System Outlook
Issue 6, June 2005
The NAHSS Outlook is an electronic communication with information about the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) that is distributed via email to all members of Veterinary Services. Contact the National Surveillance Unit to provide comments and suggestions for future topics.
Articles in This Issue:
- Proposed NPIP H5/H7 Low Path Avian Influenza Control Program for Commercial Table Egg-Layers, Broilers, and Turkeys
- Surveillance for Aquaculture Diseases: Infectious Salmon Anemia and Spring Viremia of Carp
- Measuring and Improving Data Quality Part III: Improving Data Quality
- Coordinating Zoonotic Disease Surveillance: Partnering Agriculture and Public Health
- National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) Activity Update - June 2005
What's new with the development of the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS)?
Click here for brief updates on the NAHSS strategic plan , the new classical swine fever surveillance plan , the development of surveillance standards , and the VS Atlas Spatial Data Library.
Proposed Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Control Program
Why do we need an H5/H7 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) control program for commercial table-egg layers, broilers, and turkeys? The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has proposed new recommendations for reporting LPAI, which would elevate it from a nonreportable, low-risk disease to a 'Notifiable Avian Influenza' status. Andy Rhorer describes how proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) might better protect domestic poultry flocks through an active LPAI surveillance program, satisfying the proposed OIE changes and ensuring that any restrictions to trade are scientifically justified. Read more about the NPIP surveillance program.
Surveillance for Aquaculture Diseases
With the enactment of the Animal Health Protection Act in 2002, the Animal and Plant Inspection Service's authority over the health of farm-raised aquatic animals was clarified. A Federal interagency effort to develop a National Aquatic Animal Health Plan (NAAHP) is underway that will help regulatory agencies and industry prioritize which diseases of aquatic animals are of concern and provide guidance on how to approach disease surveillance and control. Read more about the development of the NAAHP.
Measuring and Improving Data Quality Part III: Improving Data Quality
In the previous installment (Part II) of this four-part series on data quality, Dr, Michael Martin of Clemson University provided examples of poor data quality. In Part III, Dr. Martin notes that measuring data quality generally involves comparing a data "sample" in one's own application or system with a "gold standard," followed by the proper response to patterns in data quality. Dr. Martin introduces the concept of Total Data Quality Management, which is a continuous data quality improvement process that enables errors in data to be traced to their root cause and employs feedback control systems to constantly improve data quality. Read more about Measuring and Improving Data Quality.
Coordinating Zoonotic Disease Surveillance
Within the United States and abroad, veterinarians and health care professionals recognize the need to improve collaboration among agriculture and public health organizations. The Interagency Working Group for the Coordination of Zoonotic Disease Surveillance (IWGCZD) is a multiagency working group created to gather information on current efforts and work toward the integration of human and animal health surveillance at State, national, and global levels. The IWGCZD will soon conduct a field survey to better understand current reporting and response methods between State animal health officials and public health veterinarians and establish "best practices"among departments of agriculture and public health. Read more about the IWGCZD.