INSIDE

EARLY WARNING AS THE WEAKEST LINK IN DISEASE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS

UNDERSTANDING EARLY WARNING WARNING WITH REFERENCE TO PAST OUTBREAKS

FMD epidemics in the United Kingdom
FMD in Taiwan Province of China in 1997
FMD in North Africa in 1999
African swine fever outbreak in the United Republic f Tanzania
Eradication of ASF in Côte d'Ivoire
Early detection of Rift Valley Fever
Early warning lessons from the above experiences

INTERVIEW WITH DR.SOUMANA DIALLO, DELEGATE OF MALI TO OIE

DISEASE INTELLIGENCE AS A PREREQUISITE TO EARLY WARNING

TOWARDS A GLOBAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR TADs

Origin of the concept
Principles to be followed in establishing a global early warning and response system for transboundary animal diseases
OIE, WHO and FAO join efforts to realize a global early warning system

EXISTING EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK AND FOOD SECURITY

Livestock Early Warning System
Famine Early Warning System
Project on risk evaluation, vulnerability, indexing and early warning
Early Warning and Response Network, southern Sudan
Disaster Relief Web site

TRADITIONAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN EAST AFRICA

Early warning indicators
Drought, livestock and favourable conditions for mobility
Pastoralism, oral tradition and modern early warning mechanisms

TOWARDS A GLOBAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR ANIMAL DISEASES

The concept of a global early warning system for priority transboundary animal diseases (TADs) of livestock was initially raised during the review of the EMPRES programme in 1996 (expert consultation, 24-26 July 1996). This became necessary in order to help member countries to be better prepared to fight animal diseases of an epizootic nature.

THE FRUIT OF LESSONS LEARNED OVER THE YEARS

In cataloguing some of the experiences with early warning systems given in this bulletin, several important points should be taken into consideration - the fruit of lessons learned over the years during TAD outbreaks and of experience in their control. The examples chosen cover a worldwide geographical area and range from smaller outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease to those that developed into epidemic proportions.

TRADITIONAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS

Traditional early warning systems represent the whole body of knowledge developed early in the 1900s among pastoral communities to anticipate the coming of rains and thus enable them to mitigate the effect of droughts on their livestock - the backbone of their livelihoods.

The recent study by Dr Christopher Pratt of Tufts University (United States) shows the importance of traditional early warning systems and coping strategies in pastoralist communities of East Africa.