National Animal Health Surveillance System Outlook
Issue 11, Third Quarter 2006
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:
- NSU Completes BSE Prevalence Estimate
- Emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
- Surveillance Standards
- Animal Health Report
- NAHSS Activity Updates - July 2006
Click here for updates on the NAHRS Annual Report, Scrapie Surveillance Evaluation, and the U.S. Animal Health and Productivity Surveillance Inventory.
NSU Completes BSE Prevalence Estimate
The Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) National Surveillance Unit has completed a report estimating the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States . The draft results of the report were released by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and submitted for formal peer review. The USDA's preliminary estimate of BSE prevalence was based on data collected over the last 7 years. Read more about the BSE prevalence estimate.
Emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
During the summer of 2005, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, subtype H5N1) started spreading westward out of Southeast Asia , where it had been circulating for several years. By the fall, HPAI was reported in poultry and/or wild birds in countries in central Asia and around the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean . The Center for Emerging Issues describes the range of HPAI and summarizes reported information from January through April 2006. Read more about HPAI emergence.
Version 1.0 of the Surveillance and Data Standards for USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services has been completed. The project was coordinated by the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) and represents a collaborative effort by multiple units within CEAH. The manual provides standards and guidelines for the construction and operation of a surveillance system. Learn more about the surveillance standards.
The 2005 United States Animal Health Report is targeted for release in September. The publication is the second annual report on the status of animal health in the United States. The comprehensive report provides an overview of U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture production, and highlights efforts under way to ensure the continued health of those populations. Read more about the animal health report.