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immediate communications. While the initial investigation will have already undertaken much of this, it is wise to allow for a secondary investigation as the situation develops. The composition of the diagnostic team will vary according to circumstances, but may include: • a veterinary pathologist from the central or regional veterinary diagnostic laboratory; • a specialist epidemiologist, preferably with first-hand experience or training in transboundary and emerging diseases, particularly the disease suspected; • a veterinarian with extensive experience with endemic diseases in susceptible livestock species; and • any specialist required for special examinations. The team would travel to a disease outbreak site with local veterinary staff, including the local veterinary practitioner, if so directed by the CVO (and would be provided with the transport to do so). The specialist diagnostic team would be expected to make clinical examinations, collect histories, make preliminary epidemiological investigations, trace back and trace forward suspect animals and collect a range of diagnostic specimens, both specifically for the suspect disease and for any endemic or exotic diseases that might be included in the differential diagnosis. It should transport these samples back to the laboratory. The team also should be able to take any immediate disease-control actions at the outbreak site that are necessary and should have the necessary authority and legal powers to do this. They should also be empowered to provide any immediate instructions to local animal health officials. The team must report back immediately to the state/provincial/regional veterinary officer and the CVO on their assessment of the disease outbreak, including steps taken to secure a confirmatory diagnosis and on their advice on further disease-control strategies, including declaration of infected and surveillance zones. They also may advise on any necessary measures to improve disease reporting from the outbreak area and on the desirability of setting up an LDCC.
Animal health information systems Animal disease emergencies generate a great deal of epidemiological and other data which must be transmitted, stored, collated and interpreted. This can best be done by the use of an animal health information system, which is installed and made fully operational in advance of any disease emergency. It is generally recommended that a computerized system be used. This will enable a two-way flow of information between national veterinary headquarters, government veterinary diagnostic laboratories and regional veterinary offices (or local disease-control headquarters) that will allow the efficient monitoring of the progress of disease eradication or control programmes. The information that is captured in this system should be limited to that which is essential for the planning, implementation and monitoring of disease-control campaigns and for international reporting. The information system should not be cluttered with data that are not required for decision-making. It should be emphasized that the emergency disease information system needs to involve a two-way process, with adequate feedback from national veterinary headquarters to the field and laboratory veterinary staff who originally collected and processed the information.
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