1. World Organisation for Animal Health

2. 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, September 2005

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. OIE Global Information System

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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 , March 2006
OIE/VLA International Conference on Prion Diseases of Domestic Livestock, London,UK, May 2006

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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

30. World Organisation for Animal Health
12 rue de Prony
75017 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)
Fax: 33 (0)