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Animal Health Monitoring & Surveillance

National Animal Health Reporting System

Resources for State Participants

About NAHRS

The NAHRS is a joint effort of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA), American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). NAHRS was designed to provide data from chief State animal health officials on the presence of confirmed World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reportable diseases in specific commercial livestock, poultry, and aquaculture species in the United States. It is intended to be one part of a comprehensive and integrated animal-health surveillance system.

NAHRS is based on the recognized presence or absence of OIE reportable diseases rather than the prevalence of disease.  Within a State, data about animal disease occurrence are gathered from as many verifiable sources as possible and consolidated into a monthly report submitted to the National Surveillance Unit, where the information is verified, summarized, and compiled into a National report. The commodities currently covered are cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine, commercial poultry, and commercial food fish. Reporting criteria were developed by commodity working groups consisting of representatives from USAHA, AAVLD, the respective industry, USDA-APHIS, and private practitioners and are described in detail in the NAHRS Operational Manual/Uniform Methods and Rules

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Benefits of the NAHRS

NAHRS protects the global market share of America's animals and animal products by helping the U.S. meet trade commitments, reduce disruption of existing trade, and aid in expansion of trade. NAHRS also enhances animal health surveillance and is part of the national animal health surveillance reporting infrastructure.

Individual states benefit from participating in NAHRS by strengthening their internal animal health surveillance abilities and enabling animal industries to provide information needed for international trade.

Confidentiality of Information Submitted to NAHRS

OIE and NAHRS reports present results for the U.S. as a whole and not for individual regions, states or producers. Information submitted by states as part of NAHRS monthly reporting is strictly confidential.

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Contact NAHRS

National Animal Health Reporting System
Dr. Stanley Bruntz
nahrs@aphis.usda.gov
stanley.d.bruntz@aphis.usda.gov
970-494-7000

USDA APHIS VS Centers for Epidemiology & Animal Health
2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. B, MS 2E7
Fort Collins, CO 80526

Join the NAHRS listserv

A list server is available for discussion and posting of materials associated with the NAHRS. Membership is limited to individuals directly involved with the NAHRS. To join the list server, send your e-mail address to Dr. Jim Case at jcase@cvdls.ucdavis.edu or Dr. Stan Bruntz at stanley.d.bruntz@usda.gov and ask to be added to NAHRS-L.

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