1. Dr. Christianne J.M. Bruschke,
Dr. A. Schudel
OIE Scientific and Technical Department, Paris, France
Eradicating Animal Influenza Viruses at their Source The FAO-ACPHA/OIE regional avian influenza economic assessment workshop September 2005 Bali
I am going to present you the activities of the OIE in the AI crisis and will explain the objectives of the OIE therein.

2. Outline of the Presentation
OIE objectives
Why eradication at the source?
OIE International Standards
OFFLU
GF-TADs and GLEWS

3. Why standards necessary
international public good
safety of international trade
fewer disease outbreaks
harmonisation of national legislation and control measures
fewer unjustified restrictions
fairer trade
benefits to developing countries
Safer trade
Less unjustified restrictions
Benefits developing countries

4. Control of High Pathogenic AI at the animal source
Virus reservoir provides risk for pandemic
Elimination of the virus at the source of eminent importance
Animal Health issues must have highest priority in combating the AI crisis
Why is this so important:
First of all, there is a risk for a pandemic in which millions of people could die, but we must realize that this is still a risk, at the moment all detections of disease in humans apparently still comes from animals. In the animals the disease is not a risk but reality and millions of animals have been killed by now.
To diminish the risk for humans we must first combat the diseas in animals.

5. A Realistic Goal
Stepwise and phased disease control program for each country
Short, medium and long term frame
Progressively shift the majority of infected countries to “freedom from infection in defined compartments”
Ensure that free countries remain free
It would be naïve to think, even if we would put all our efforts in combatting the animal problem, that we will eliminate the virus at short notice, a realistic goal has to be set,
That should have a short, medium and long term frame and separate goals can be set,
Furhter more the plans for each region can be different, since the riskfactors of introduction for the affected countries can be different and also recources and quasity of vet services
The weakness of the organisation and the lack of resources of the veterinary services of countries infected is a real problem.

6. Critical issues for Avian Influenza control
Early warning, detection and response
Standards for
disease/infection detection
disease/infection prevention
animal movements and trade
animal and virus destruction
production and use of vaccination
Collaboration of OIE, FAO and WHO

7. The OIE early warning system
This is a schedule of the current OIE early warning system,
It is designed to warn the international community when exceptional epidemiological events occur and esepcially aimed at the policy makers who can base their decisions on the information they receive from this system. It relies of course on the reporting of the countries, the capability to detect (capacity of vet services) and the willingness to report transparant.
And encourage that the standards and definitions for trade are so important, but I will come back to that later

8. HPAI subtype H5N1 in South-East Asia
This is the map as it is shown on the website of the OIE.
You can get information on all diseases and get global or per country.
At the OIE a new system is under development now, this system also shows regions that are free and not free, is not china as a whole, or russia as a whole is positive there.

10. OIE International Standards for Avian Influenza
Terrestrial Animal Health Code - mammals, birds and bees
Chapter
Appendix 3.8.9
Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals
Available at
The standards are very important in the work of the OIE. All standards are accessible and can be found on the internet. Standards are all endorsed by the 167 member countries during the yearly general session

11. Terrestrial Animal Health Code
To avoid introduction of pathogens without using unjustified sanitary barriers
Gives trading recommendations to the Chief Veterinary Officers of the OIE Member Countries
Provides guidelines for disease surveillance
In general the terrestrial code has been set up to provide the guidelines for trade.
In many animal diseases, especially the listed diseases, the trade implications can be very important in the poor countries
The Code provides the CVO’s wth recommendations for establishing National Animal Health measures or rules applicable to the importation of animals and animal products.

12. Update chapter 2.7.12 on Avian Influenza
Update Chapter, taking most recent scientific findings into consideration (2004)
Development of specific risk-based recommendations for most important commodities being traded
Differentiate restrictions between HPAI and LPAI to encourage transparent reporting
Important in the current crisis was to update the chapter on AI..encouriage transparant reporting by making betger definitions.

13. Recent events:
Expert ad hoc group on pathogenesis and transmission (November 2004)
Expert ad hoc group on epidemiology and surveillance (November 2004)
Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (January 2005)

14. Avian Influenza (Ch. 2.7.12) Definition
Poultry
HPAI free
NAI free, free establishment
Commodity trading recommendations
Compartmentalization
Surveillance (with and without vaccination)
Clinical
Virological
Serological

15. Notifiable avian influenza (NAI): is defined as an infection of poultry caused by any influenza A virus of the H5 or H7 subtypes or by any AI virus with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) greater than 1.2 or …

16. NAI viruses can be divided into highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza (HPNAI) and low pathogenicity notifiable avian influenza (LPNAI)

17. HPNAI viruses have an IVPI in 6-week-old chickens greater than 1
HPNAI viruses have an IVPI in 6-week-old chickens greater than 1.2 or,, cause at least 75% mortality in 4-to 8-week-old chickens infected intravenously.

18. H5 and H7 viruses which do not have an IVPI of greater than 1
H5 and H7 viruses which do not have an IVPI of greater than 1.2 or cause less than 75% mortality in an intravenous lethality test should be sequenced to determine whether multiple basic amino acids are present at the cleavage site of the haemagglutinin molecule (HA0) for similarities to known HPNAI isolates.

19. LPNAI are all influenza A viruses of H5 and H7 subtype that are not HPNAI viruses.

20. Poultry is defined as ‘all birds reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, for the production of other commercial products, for restocking supplies of game, or for breeding these categories of birds’.

21. NAI status (Ch )
The NAI status of a country, zone or compartment
HPAI free
HPAI infected
NAI free zone or compartment
Guidelines for trade of poultry and poultry products
Compartments: Recognition of animal populations of different health status, based on management, biosecurity
Zones: recognition of different health status based on geographical barriers

22. Guidelines for Surveillance (app. 3.8.9)
Defines principles and provides a guide for Disease Surveillance
To seek recognition for a declared free NAI status
Maintenance or following outbreak
With or without vaccination
Application can be made for a country, zone or compartment
1. Determine the presence or absence of NAIV infection
2. Determine the prevalence of NAIV
Scientifically impossible to demonstrate the absence of disease in absolute terms
Sufficient confidence can be achieved through a combination of approaches

23. Surveillance Strategies
Random surveillance
Statistically based surveys
Serological testing followed by virological methods for confirmation
Targeted surveillance
Aimed at high risk groups
Serological and virological methods concurrently

24. Surveillance Strategies
Detection of clinical signs of NAI at the flock level
Important for HPNAI
Strategies
Clinical followed by serological surveillance or
Serological followed by clinical surveillance
Virological surveillance
Monitor at risk populations
Confirm clinically suspect cases
Follow up positive serological results
Test ‘normal’ daily mortality, to ensure early detection of infection in the face of vaccination or in establishments epidemiologically linked to an outbreak
Serological surveillance
Most useful in non-vaccinated flocks

25. Surveillance: Vaccinated flocks
Strategy dependent on the type of vaccine used
Inactivated whole AIV
Hemagglutinin expression-based vaccines
DIVA
Sentinel birds
Unvaccinated, permanently identifiable
In vaccinated flocks a DIVA strategy and/or sentinels should be used
Clustering of seropositive flocks should always be thoroughly investigated
Virological, serological and clinical methods

26. OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals
The Manual is a companion volume of the Code.
The purpose is to facilitate international trade in animals and animal products by describing internationally agreed upon laboratory methods for diagnosis and requirements for the production and control of vaccines.

27. Diagnostic Techniques
Identification of the Agent
Assessment of pathogenicity
Serology
Developing techniques
new interpretation and definition of notifiable AI

28. Vaccines Existing standard new DIVA strategies can reduce mass culling
based on traditional inactivated vaccine
use of subtypes homologous to the outbreak, but normally low pathogenicity subtypes
new DIVA strategies can reduce mass culling
recombinant vaccines have a place

29. Animal Welfare Animal welfare is included in the strategic plan of OIE
Animal welfare concerns
Guidelines on killing for disease control
Guidelines on slaughter, including religious
Guidelines on land transport

30. Zoning and Compartmentalisation (Ch 1.3.5)
To establish and maintain a subpopulation with a different health status within the national borders
Zoning: separation by natural or artificial geographical barriers
Compartmentalisation: separation via a biosecurity management system

31. Zoning and Compartmentalisation Benefits
Allows a stepwise approach to disease control in a country
May encourage the efficient use of resources
May allow safe trade in certain commodities due to functional separation

32. Principles for definition of a zone or compartment
Establishment by the veterinary administration
The animals belonging to the subpopulation should be clearly recognisable
The measures necessary to preserve distinct health status must be defined and appropriate to the disease

33. Sequence of steps in definition of zone or compartment
Exporting country
defines the zone or compartment
Identifies animals and has a valid traceability in place
Defines the standard operating procedures (eg biosecurity manual)
Provides the information to the importing country

34. Sequence of steps in definition of zone or compartment
Importing country determines whether it accepts the zone or compartment
Evaluates the Vet Services of the exporting country
Makes risk assessment
Takes own health status into account
Takes OIE standards into account

35. Sequence of steps in definition of zone or compartment
Importing country
Rejects
Requests further information
Recognises
Formal agreement between both parties

36. Factors for the evaluation of the zone or compartment
Definition
Epidemiologic separation from potential sources of infection (physical or biosecurity)
Standard operating procedures in place
Permanent supervision and assessment by Veterinary Services
Surveillance for the agent / disease
Diagnostic capabilities
Notification and emergency response

37. OIE/FAO Network for Avian Influenza (2005)
OFFLU

38. OIE/FAO Network for Avian influenza OFFLU
To offer veterinary expertise to Member Countries to assist in the control of AI
To develop research on avian influenza (AI)
To collaborate with the WHO Influenza Network on issues relating to the animal-human interface

39. Structure OFFLU Steering Committee Secretariat: Scientific Committee:
Dr I. Capua, OIE reference laboratory Padova
Scientific Committee:
experts with international repute with proven lab expertise and/or field experience
Team of Scientific Collaborators
Scientists having first hand experience, national and regional expertise in lab work, epidemiology or field control

40. Scientific Collaborators
Invited to participate from as wide a field as possible
Terms of Reference
Liaise with Sc.C. to advise in management, control and eradication of AI
Promote the collection of strains for identification
Assist in training for lab diagnosis and field surveillance
Promote linkages between diagnostic labs in poor countries with industrialized countries

41. OFFLU: main priorities
Exchange of virus isolates and sequence data among reference and diagnostic labs
Exchange of Scientific information
Communication with member countries and international organisations
Provide advice and expertise to infected countries
Monitor vaccine trials
We hope this initiative can serve as an example for future networks of diagnostic labs

42. Global Framework for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases
New Agreement between the OIE and the FAO (Paris, )
It replaces a previous 50 years old agreement
The background of GF TADS is the fact that capacity building in countries with growth of livestock sector is extremely important. It is estimated that in the next 15 to 20 years the livestock population will double and TADs have a devastating effect.
Assistence and guidance is extremely important to help developing countries in the acheivement of their millenium goals

43. GF-TADs Strengthens complementarities and synergies of OIE / FAO
Early warning systems
Collection and analysis of the animal health information
Design and implementation of strategies for disease control
Promotion of research
EWS are important to minimizes the losses after the introduction of TADs, the costs of eradiaction of outbreaks is less in the beginning of an outbreak and furhtermore to try to prevent diseases becoming endemic.
Persistence of TAD pose a serious risk, AHI is important to design the strategies for disease control

44. Regional Support Units
ECO/
SAARC
PACE-AU/IBAR
SADC
GCC
ASEAN
PAHO
OIRSA
IICA
Not possible to reach objectives from the offices in Paris or Rome,
Regional initiatives are extremely important

45. GF-TADs Regional immediate objectives
Regional nodes for Epidemiological analysis and Early Warning
Improvement of Veterinary Services (public and private)
National and Regional capacity building for early detection and response, collection of samples, primary diagnostic

46. GF-TADs Regional immediate objectives
Laboratories/surveillance teams, through Networks:
Regional and National Laboratories and Epidemiology Units
Surveillance for primary endemic areas
Pilot disease control programs
Influence on national policy makers
Design of National Projects/Advocacy Promotion
In current crisi

47. GF-TADs Regional Outputs
Coordinating strategies at regional level (Asia: ASEAN, ASEAN+3, ASEAN+SEAFMD, SAARC, SPC)
regional GF-TADs Steering Committees,
regional conferences
definition of policies
coordination of national and regional programmes.

48. GF-TADs National Objectives
Global and regional policies GF-TADs operative implementation
Support to Veterinary Services - Early detection and response to disease outbreaks
National diagnostic laboratories
Policies of compensation for farmers
Vaccination implementation when relevant
National, regional and international disease notification
Collection and sharing of virus samples
Especially in poor countries

49. Concepts and key epidemiological aspects of GF-TADs
Disease and Infection at the animal SOURCE (early detection and response)
Upstream investigation, Networks
an integrated approach.
GLobal Early Warning System FAO-OIE-WHO
= to save money spent for human pandemic
Knowledge on animal production, land usage, marketing schemes, movement patterns …

50. OIE-WHO-FAO Global Early Warning System
A major component of GF-TADs
Assist in predicting and preventing animal livestock disease threats
Epidemiological analysis
Additional factors
Dealing with a disease in an early stage is easier than when it is widespread.

51. Global Early Warning System
OIE, FAO WHO Outbreak Tracking Systems
FAO data, AH
Official information
OIE data, AH
Official information
OIE, FAO WHO
Global Early Warning System
Other FAO and
UN data,
OIE: official system for policy makers and system to verify unofficial information
FAO: OIE info and field info, technical projects, field missions, personal contacts
WHO: system for human diseases including zoonosos
Output:
Web based GLEWS
EW messages
Collaborating centres etc
Targeted Capacity
Building and
Strengthening VS
Urgent Intervention
Immediate Response
Trend Analysis
Prediction

52. GF-TADs
Depends on strong complementary partnership: commitment of member countries
Financial resources
Ambitious program

53. World Organisation for Animal Health
created in 1924 in Paris