The Elements

Assessments

Assessments of the current level of performance can assist countries to establish priorities, facilitate strategic planning, and form a shared vision with the private sector. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has developed a process (called the Performance of Veterinary Services tool, or PVS) as an instrument in conducting evaluations of present veterinary health service levels. The results of processes such as PVS can help to indicate the overall performance of services or compare performance with other services in the region or globally. Assessments can help determine the benefits and costs of investing in capacity building programs; and assist countries to prepare for and conform to international health and trade standards.

Within this element you can learn more about the OIE PVS tool and how to conduct effective in-country assessments.

Typically, assessments should achieve at least the following:

establish short, medium and long term needs
be inclusive of animal and human health sectors
indicate priority areas for attention and identify financial and other resource gaps
consider the adequacy of national plans to maintain animal health, safeguard human health and undertake disease containment
examine current legal instruments, enabling legislation and procedures to support and implement national plans.

Case Studies
Documents

Case Studies

Avian influenza A(H5N1) in humans: new insights from a line list of World Health Organization confirmed cases, September 2006 to August 2010

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16/08/2011 4:03:48 PM

Researchers from the Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Respiratory Infections Unit, Germany showed that data from the public domain yielded important epidemiological information on the global AI situation. They said that the establishment of a line list is a prerequisite to such evaluations as it may enhance our understanding of AI in humans and permit the rapid detection of changes in its epidemiology with implications for human health.
Avian influenza A(H5N1) in humans: new insights from a line list of World Health Organization confirmed cases, September 2006 to August 2010

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31/08/2011 11:01:20 AM

Ressearchers from the Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Respiratory Infections Unit Germany showed that data from the public domain yield important epidemiological information on the global AI situation. They say that the establishment of a line list is a prerequisite to such evaluations as it might enhance our understanding of AI in humans and permit the rapid detection of changes in its epidemiology with implications for human health.
Current drivers and future directions of global livestock disease dynamics

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25/05/2011 4:23:59 PM

Perry et al reviewed the global dynamics of livestock disease over the last two decades. They found major proximate drivers of change in disease dynamics include ecosystemchange, ecosystem incursion, and movements of people and animals; underlying these are demographic change and an increasing demand for livestock products. They identified three trajectories of global disease dynamics.
Discovering novel zoonotic viruses

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16/08/2011 4:34:50 PM

From the emergence of Hendra virus and Menangle virus in Australia to the global pandemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza viruses (both H5N1 and H1N1), there has been a surge of zoonotic virus outbreaks in the last two decades. Lin-Fa Wang looks at how molecular approaches will continue to lead the way in virus discovery and how other technological platforms are required to increase the chance of success.
ECDC assessment on A(H5N1) highly pathogenic avian influenza in Egypt and possible implications for human health in Europe

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6/10/2011 10:30:10 AM

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has conducted a rapid risk assessment of veterinary control measures in Egypt and concluded they may be insufficient to keep a check on the continuing outbreaks in poultry, with potential implications for human health in EuropeH5N1.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1): Pathways of Exposure at the Animal–Human Interface, a Systematic Review

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7/02/2011 3:20:52 PM

A systematic search for all available published literature evaluating prevalence of symptomatic or asymptomatic infection with H5N1 and/or risk factors for human infection with the H5N1 virus was performed by Kerkhove et al. The review showed that most H5N1 cases are attributed to exposure to sick poultry. Most cases are sporadic, while occasional limited human-to-human transmission occurs. The most commonly identified factors associated with H5N1 virus infection included exposure through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids of infected poultry via food preparation practices; touching and caring for infected poultry; consuming uncooked poultry products; exposure to H5N1 via swimming or bathing in potentially virus laden ponds; and exposure to H5N1 at live bird markets.
Identifying crucial gaps in our knowledge of the life-history of avian influenza viruses – an Australian perspective

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26/07/2011 10:21:19 AM

The study by Klaassen et al reviewed the current knowledge of the epidemiology and ecology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in Australia in relation to the ecology of their hosts. This study is one of a few to investigate individual responses to a virus and show how the behaviour of animals affects their susceptibility to a disease.
Independent Evaluation of FAO’s Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response Programme in Indonesia

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3/06/2010 2:42:34 PM

This report describes an independent external evaluation of the Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Indonesia, in the context of the broader response by FAO to the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the country.
Risk Factors of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Occurrence at the Village and Farm Levels in the Red River Delta Region in Vietnam

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25/05/2011 4:03:21 PM

A case–control study by Desvaux et al at both village and farm levels was designed to investigate risk factors for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 during the 2007 outbreaks in one province of Northern Vietnam. The results provide a better understanding of local transmission mechanisms of HPAI H5N1 in one province of the Red River Delta region in Vietnam and highlight the need to reduce at-risk trading and production practices.
Spatial and Temporal Association of Outbreaks of H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection in Wild Birds with the Zero Degrees Isotherm

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13/05/2010 3:48:37 PM

This study, supported by a grant from the European Commission, examines the movement of wild waterbirds associated with cold weather, and the subsequent relationship to the spread and geographical distribution of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza during a European winter.

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Documents

FAO Technical guide No.3 - Animal Production and Health

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17/10/2008 8:58:07 AM

Preparing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - An FAO manual to assist national animal health authorities and other stakeholders to prepare for HPAI, detect the disease and respond quickly. It contains chapters on diagnosis, risk of introduction and spread, preparing for an outbreak, and prevention and biosecurity.
Impact of avian influenza outbreaks in the poultry sectors of five South East Asian countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam) outbreak costs, responses and potential long term control

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22/06/2009 2:40:05 PM

This 2005 FAO document presents information on the poultry sectors, veterinary services and potential strategies for HPAI control in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Useful for those interested in a comparison of country contexts for HPAI.
Joint European Pandemic Preparedness Self-Assessment Indicators

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10/08/2010 2:24:32 PM

A 2010 document providing assessment indicators for European Union Member States to assess their pandemic preparedness, identify gaps, prioritize future investment and monitor progress. The indicators can be used by Member States as part of a self-assessment process.
Rapid Risk Assessment: Potential resurgence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza

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13/09/2011 11:28:55 AM

The increased reports of A(H5N1) outbreaks in poultry and wild bird populations, and the emergence of a further evolved lineage of the virus in poultry in some countries, do not change the current assessment of the risk to human health. This is still considered to be very low in EU countries. However, vigilance for avian influenza in domestic poultry and wild birds in Europe remains important.
Second Real Time Evaluation of FAOs Work on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

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6/05/2010 2:53:40 PM

This report describes the Second Real-Time Evaluation of the responses of the Food and Agriculture (FAO) Organisation of the United Nations to the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), conducted by an independent external evaluation team. The evaluation attempts to provide a forward looking approach on how to optimise FAO’s future contributions to the control of HPAI, as well as other priority disease threats, and global pandemic preparedness.
Understanding Avian Influenza

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20/07/2009 1:04:15 PM

The FAO supported work – Understanding avian influenza – is a nine chapter review of the emergence, spread, control, prevention and effects of Asian-lineage H5N1 highly pathogenic based on evidence and scientific findings. The first three available chapters are provided here, with the other six to follow in two more instalments. The document seeks to separate science from common perceptions about the sources of virus and modes of transmission.