World Organisation for Animal Health

OIE’s approach to zoonoses Jean-Luc Angot Head Administrative and Financial department Willem Droppers Chargé de Mission OIE’s approach to zoonoses WHO/DFID-AHP Meeting on Control of Zoonotic Diseases, WHO headquarters, Geneve, 20-21 September 2005

OIE Objectives 1. TRANSPARENCY To ensure transparency in the worldwide animal health and zoonoses situation Sanitary Country Status Recognition 2. SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION To collect, analyse and disseminate worldwide scientific veterinary information. 3. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY To provide expertise and encourage and influence international solidarity in the control of animal diseases. 4. SANITARY SAFETY OF WORLD TRADE OF ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS Within its mandate under SPS and WTO Agreement, to safeguard world trade by establishing animal health standards for international trade, as well as to act as mediator. 5. PROMOTION OF VETERINARY SERVICES To improve the infrastructure of Veterinary Services. 6. FOOD SAFETY AND ANIMAL WELFARE To provide a better guarantee of safety of food of animal origin and to promote animal welfare throgh a science-based approach

Zoonoses Traditional zoonoses are common bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases of man which occurr naturally in animals (ie, animals are a reservoir) An emerging zoonosis is a zoonosis that is newly recognized or newly evolved, or that has occurred previously but shows an increase in incidence or expansion in a geographic, host, or vector range.

OIE Information System OIE Early Warning System based on official information and reports from Member Countries and other Organisations Reports from worldwide network of OIE Reference Laboratories Active search and tracking of unofficial sources, such as scientific publications and ProMed, and lay publications, with Member Country verification Improved Member Country surveillance OIE Global Information System

OIE Global Information System

OIE animal disease notification system Since 1 of January 2005, only 1 list of notifiable diseases Criteria for inclusion in the OIE list: International spread Significant spread within naive population Zoonotic potential Emerging diseases

Global Early Warning System (GLEWS) Joint OIE/FAO/WHO initiative Animal disease and zoonoses tracking Emergency response Trends analysis predictions Capacity building of Veterinary Services for surveillance and early warning and response (animal sector) List of priority animal diseases, zoonoses and emerging diseases

OIE Standards Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code) Aquatic Animal Health Code (the Aquatic Code) Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Terrestrial Manual) Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (the Aquatic Manual)

OIE Codes Recommend sanitary measures to be used by veterinary or other competent authorities faced with animal diseases including zoonoses Establish health regulations, including surveillance guidelines, to prevent importations of pathogens, including those transmissible to humans, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers Diagnostic methods to be used by laboratories

OIE Manuals Describe internationally agreed laboratory methods for disease diagnosis including zoonoses for production and control of biological products including vaccines ‘Prescribed’ and ‘alternative’ tests for OIE listed diseases, and ‘other diseases of importance’ for terrestrial animals Diagnostic tests for OIE listed diseases of aquatic animals

OIE’s WTO mandate SPS Agreement recognises OIE as one of three reference organisations for relevant international standards (three sisters) for food safety, the standards established by Codex* for animal health and zoonoses, the standards adopted by OIE Member Countries for plant health, the standards developed under the IPPC *From farm to slaughter, OIE

OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres Worldwide network of: 157 OIE Reference Laboratories 17 OIE Collaborating Centres Expertise in 92 animal diseases (including zoonoses) and other topics In 31 Member Countries Involving 154 world renowned experts

Specialist Commissions Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases Biological Standards Commission Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission Members are elected by General Assembly of national representatives on the basis of excellence and regional balance

Specialist Commissions (continued) The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (" Code Commission« ) role is to use current scientific information to study problems of epidemiology and the prevention and control of animal diseases develop and revise OIE's international standards to address scientific and technical issues raised by Member Countries responsible for ensuring that the Terrestrial Animal Health Code reflects current scientific information → Animal Production Food Safety Working Group → Wild Life Working Group → Animal Welfare Working Group

Specialist Commissions (continued) The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases ("Scientific Commission") assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and measures for disease prevention and control examines Member Country submissions regarding their animal health status for those countries that wish to be included on the OIE official list of free countries and zones for certain diseases

Specialist Commissions (continued) The Biological Standards Commission establishes or approves methods for diagnosing diseases of mammals, birds and bees and for testing biological products, such as vaccines, used for control purposes oversees production of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals monitores the worldwide network of reference laboratories and collaborating centers

Specialist Commissions (continued) Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission compiles information on diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans, and on methods used to control these diseases produces the Aquatic Animal Health Code and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals monitores the relevant reference laboratories

OIE’s food safety goal To reduce food borne risks to human health by preventing, eliminating or controlling hazards arising from animals prior to slaughter of the animal or primary processing of the product primary focus on food safety measures applicable at the farm level

Food safety priorities Dual roles and functionalities of veterinary services throughout the food chain public health and animal health Good farming practices to minimise hazards at farm level Zoonoses those not up to date in OIE Code those not always affecting animals Antimicrobial resistance prudent use Traceability of animals Relation with Codex Alimentarius

Coordination with Codex Need for Codex and OIE to jointly review standards and identify gaps / duplications joint standards mutual recognition of standards linkages between standards Priorities zoonoses not currently appropriately addressed in the Code eg brucellosis those not always affecting animals eg salmonellosis,campylobacteriosis

Ad hoc groups on zoonoses Ad hoc Group on Emerging Zoonoses Ad hoc Group on Tuberculosis Ad hoc Group on Brucellosis Ad hoc Group on BSE Ad hoc Group on Avian Influenza Ad hoc Group on Epidemiology (Ad hoc Group on Rabies to start in 2006)

Conference on Zoonoses OIE/FAO World Conference on Avian Influenza, Paris, 7-8 April 2005 1st International Conference on Rabies in Europe, Kiev, Ukraine, 5-18 June 2005 CDC/OIE International Symposium on Emerging Zoonoses, Atlanta, Georgia USA , 22-24 March 2006 OIE/VLA International Conference on Prion Diseases of Domestic Livestock, London,UK, 28-30 May 2006

Publications on zoonoses Zoonoses and Communicable diseases, common to man and animals, 3rd ed., Pedro Acha and Boris Szyfres, PAHO WHO/FAO Guidelines for the surveillance, prevention and control of taeniosis / cysticercosis Emerging zoonoses and pathogens of public health concerns, L.J. King, ed, Scientific and Technical Review, Vol. 23(2), August 2004 Scientific and Technical Review OIE Bulletin

OIE survey conclusions on emerging zoonoses from the 72nd General Session Veterinary Services and the OIE are experiencing the impact of emerging and re-emerging diseases. Member Countries believe that emerging zoonoses will become increasingly an important part of their services and activities. A significant number of countries have experienced new zoonoses and/or antimicrobial resistant pathogens. Critical factors of emergence are found across Member Countries. Many Member Countries have the capacity to diagnose emerging zoonotic agents.

Priority considerations for OIE Fitting zoonoses in OIE List Diseases Developing with partners early warning systems (GLEWS) Improving global surveillance and early warning and response Rapid and accurate reporting – 24 hours Building capacity and expertise to meet challenge

Priority considerations for OIE(continued) Educating Member Countries Assisting in research prioritization Developing new partnerships with public health and private sector (producers, veterinarians) New Agreement with WHO and FAO Agreement with u.o. PAHO, IFAH, OIRSA, WVA, SPC

Conclusions Animal health is inextricably interwoven in the public’s health and well being. The convergence of human and animal health offers both important challenges and opportunities. Stronger partnerships between veterinary and public health officials are already occurring, and a closer working relationship explore opportunities and mechanisms to promote awareness through conferences and interactions between the Veterinary is considered a necessity. The OIE will undertake to Services of Member Countries and their public health counterparts New dialogue partnerships and collaborations with public health officials and organizations are a priority issues.

Conclusions (continued) Member Countries acknowledge the growing importance of zoonoses in their lives and work. Developed countries and donors cannot solve the problem without international new policies and investments Surveillance research, training, technical assistance, and capacity building need to be strengthened. Veterinary Services of Member Countries and the OIE have an opportunity to play an important leadership role. The OIE will continue to support and urge Member Countries to make progress on timely and accurate reporting of zoonoses Missions of Veterinary Services are an international public good, mainly related to early detection and rapid response to (re-)emerging animal diseases and zoonoses

World Organisation for Animal Health 12 rue de Prony 75017 Paris, France Tel: 33 (0)1 44 15 18 88 Fax: 33 (0)1 42 67 09 87 Email: oie@oie.int http://www.oie.int