Friday, June 10, 2011

[EQ] Importance of animal/human health interface in potential Public Health Emergencies

Importance of animal/human health interface in potential Public Health Emergencies
of International Concern in the Americas



Maria Cristina Schneider,1 Ximena P. Aguilera,1 Ryan M. Smith,1 Matthew J. Moynihan,1 Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr.,1 Sylvain Aldighieri,1 and Maria Almiron1
Health Surveillance and Disease Prevention and Control, Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO
Washington, D.C., United States of America
Rev Panam Salud Publica. May 2011;29(5):371–9

Available online at: http://bit.ly/mMjSpX

 

“……This study analyzed the importance of zoonoses and communicable diseases common to man and animals as potential Public Health Emergencies of International Concern to build an evidence base for future efforts to reduce risk of infection at the animal/human health interface.

 

The events recorded in the World Health Organization (WHO) Event Management System (EMS) database for the Americas during the 18 months since the implementation of the 2005 revised version of WHO’s International Health Regulations (15 June 2007–31 December 2008) were the main source for this analysis. Of the 110 events recorded by the EMS for the Americas during the study period, 86 were classified as communicable diseases— 77 (70.0%) “within the animal/human health interface,” 9 (8.2%) “not common to man and animals,” 16 (14.5%) “syndromes with unknown etiologies,” and 8 (7.3%) “product- related/ other.”

 

Of the 77 events within the animal/human health interface, 48 were “substantiated” (the presence of hazard was confirmed and/or human cases occurred clearly in excess of normal expectancy). These results confirm previous research and underscore the importance of the animal/human health interface as well as inter-sectoral collaboration….”

 

‘….Evidence-based analysis of the animal/human health interface could also support new directions in research, vaccines, and treatments, as well as the development of diagnostic tests and other tools, to help prevent, control, eliminate, or mitigate emergent infectious diseases. As mentioned above, and supported by the results of this study, the recommendations of the “One World, One Health” strategic framework—particularly the need to develop surveillance capacity, strengthen public and animal health capacity, strengthen national emergency response, and promote inter-agency and cross-sectoral collaboration—provide some helpful guidance for these types of endeavors…”

 

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