Introduction The National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Business Plan 2016–2019 is Australia’s national business plan for animal health surveillance in Australia. It is intended to guide the efficient and effective delivery of surveillance activities in accordance with nationally agreed objectives and priorities. It has been developed collaboratively by the governments and livestock industries that will be chiefly responsible for its implementation. Background Australia has a relatively favourable animal health status, free from many of the economically important diseases that occur in other parts of the world. Assurance in Australia’s animal health status underpins the ‘clean, green’ image of Australia’s animal industries and our competitive advantage in international markets. It also supports domestic consumer confidence in Australian livestock products. However, Australia is not immune to the threats by exotic and emerging infectious diseases. International trade and travel, intensification of livestock production, new technologies, climate change and other factors are contributing to a growing risk of disease emergence. The social, economic and environmental costs of disease incursions can be exceedingly high. In addition, trading partners and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) are tending to demand more robust evidence in support of claims of disease freedom. Surveillance enables the identification of exotic, emerging and nationally significant endemic animal diseases. If done well, it provides the necessary information to support disease control policies, programs and reporting requirements. Surveillance is a critical element of an effective and efficient animal health system and a core competency of the Veterinary Service as described by the OIE. The majority of emerging infectious diseases of people are caused by microbes that originate in animals and cross the species barrier to infect humans. For this reason, surveillance and control of diseases in animals is an important measure to safeguard the health of people. Australia’s current capacity for animal health surveillance and diagnostics is outlined briefly in Annex A. These existing surveillance programs and systems provide a strong foundation on which to further build national capacity. The benefits of an effective animal health surveillance system are substantial and far-reaching across governments, livestock industries and the community. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) has recognised that surveillance is a shared responsibility and all parties have a role in Australia’s animal disease surveillance system. With common interests and a diverse range of stakeholders, it is imperative to have a coordinated national approach to strengthening this system.
of compatible systems in some jurisdictions provide opportunities to enhance data sharing. There is also potential to make better use of available data to meet the information needs of government and industry stakeholders. 2 provides a summary of agreed outcomes and activities to enhance the collection, management and effective use of animal health information for surveillance purposes. Table : Enhancing the collection, management and effective use of animal health surveillance information Outcome Expected benefits or effects New activity Tasks to deliver planned results Lead Resource/ financial implications Policy and governance arrangements are in place to facilitate the sharing of national surveillance data Develop National Minimum Data Standards for animal health surveillance [2.1.A] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (with AHA and jurisdictions) In-kind contributions Develop formats and protocols for the transfer of national surveillance data [2.1.B] National Veterinary Epidemiology and Surveillance (with PIRSA) In-kind contributions National animal health surveillance data are managed in a more coordinated and integrated way Develop a Commonwealth facility capable of managing agreed national surveillance data [2.2.A] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Funding will be required Conduct a project to develop and demonstrate the capacity to share national surveillance data [2.2.B] (with Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) In-kind contributions Develop an online user interface and ‘dashboards’ to graphically present real-time snapshots and trends in national animal health surveillance data [2.2.C] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in collaboration with the National Veterinary Epidemiology and Surveillance Group and industries Funding will be required Onshore activities are guided by timely intelligence of offshore and border risks Establish a system to collect, collate and analyse border interception data to identify emerging trends/threats [2.3.A] Department of Agriculture and Resources In-kind contributions Establish mechanisms to integrate interception data with border and offshore situation analyses and communicate findings to jurisdictions and other stakeholders [2.3.B] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources In-kind contributions Investigations of possible priority disease events provide data that are sufficient for initial assessment and the fulfilment of international/trade reporting obligations Develop national standard protocols for the investigation and reporting of syndromes indicative of high-priority diseases [2.4.A] National Veterinary Epidemiology and Surveillance Group (with AAHL) In-kind contributions Update policies and procedural guidelines to reflect agreed national standards [2.4.B] Animal Health Committee In-kind contributions
investigate and report on disease events Assess Australian universities with reference to the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) ‘Day 1 Competencies’ [3.2] Australian Veterinary Boards Council Funding will be required the European Union on-line training program for private and government field veterinarians [3.3] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Funds committed Update the Guide of Exotic Animal Diseases (the ‘blue book’) and publish [3.4] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources committed Training program in animal disease investigation: review requirements and develop a program [3.5] AHA in collaboration with the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and NSDIP Coordination Committee Funding required Producers, livestock industry workers and other people are more likely to recognise and report unusual signs of animal disease Undertake a program of social research to identify drivers and impediments to producers and others in the supply chain for participating in surveillance [3.6.A] Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Funded In response to the findings of the social research project, develop a strategy to improve private sector awareness and engagement in disease surveillance [3.6.B] To be confirmed Funding will be required Develop communication, education and information materials and pilot in specific stakeholder groups; e.g. on-line producer awareness campaign linked to PIC registration [3.6.C] To be confirmed Funding will be required Cultivating effective partnerships and stewardship Biosecurity is a shared responsibility. It requires cooperative partnerships among governments, non-government organisations and industry, and strong engagement with the Australian community. Building these partnerships will be central to the effective implementation of the national surveillance and diagnostics strategy. Table : Cultivating effective partnerships and stewardship Outcome Expected benefits or effects New activity Tasks to deliver planned results Lead Resource/ financial implications Key stakeholders are committed to the strengthening of Australia’s animal health surveillance system Develop and implement a communications strategy to raise awareness about Australia’s animal health surveillance and diagnostics strategy and the desired outcomes described in this Business Plan [4.1] ...