Early Warning, Database, and Information Systems for Avian Influenza Surveillance

This paper, presented at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Word Organization for Animal Health (OIE) International Scientific Conference on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds in May 2006, looks at the avian flu crisis as a unique opportunity for developing new collaborative links among groups and institutions that share knowledge.

The article, published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, examines the role of early warning systems in rapidly detecting and reporting disease outbreaks. According to the article, early warning systems, which are largely based on disease surveillance, reporting, and epidemiological analysis, are mainly supported by information systems that enable integration, analysis, and sharing of data. The article describes some of the existing early warning systems created to closely monitor the avian influenza situation worldwide. One such system is the FAO Global Animal Health Information System (EMPRES-i), a web-based secured application that provides a platform to record, analyse and monitor data on bird flu, both in wild bird populations and domestic poultry. The system aims at delivering timely and accurate situation updates as well as relevant risk analysis distributed in electronic format to member countries and partner institutions.

According to the authors, early warning, database, and information systems for avian influenza are essential tools in the global challenge to contain the current bird flu crisis. The authors contend that, in order to ensure timely dissemination of current and accurate knowledge regarding animal diseases, more integration and a data sharing are needed within existing global early warning systems.

The authors conclude by highlighting the need for the international scientific community to join efforts by strengthening collaborative opportunities across relevant disciplines to provide rapid access to surveillance data. They suggest the creation of a multidisciplinary approach that brings the skills of veterinarians, wildlife specialists, ornithologists, virologists, molecular biologists, and data management and geographical information systems (GIS) specialists together.