Early detection, reporting and surveillance for avian influenza in Africa (EDRSAIA)

Published on 11 September 2010

Research Areas

Livestock

Countries

Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Timeline

Start Date: 1 January 2010 | End Date: 30 September 2011

Overview

This project aims to enhance or build sustainable capacity in the region for early detection, reporting and surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The project uses risk-based approaches (risk mapping, value chain analysis and risk assessment) to create tools and train decision-makers in their use, enabling targeting of scarce resources at areas of greatest risk from the introduction and impacts of HPAI.

Objectives

1. Improve national, sub-regional and regional capacity for evidence-based risk assessment approaches to enable rapid response for HPAI.
2. Improve national surveillance and reporting capacity.
3. Increase sub-regional cooperation and coordination, with regional support to undertake HPAI investigations, report disease and manage HPAI relevant information.

Summary of activities

The project objectives are addressed through a series of activities for each project location.  While the project activities have been tailored to each location, they contain a number of common elements as follows:

1. Rapidly assess existing HPAI surveillance systems
2. Develop, disseminate and train in the use of effective tools for targeting HPAI surveillance resources
3. Train in HPAI surveillance techniques, tools and approaches, including outbreak reporting and data analysis
4. Develop linkages with sub-regional and regional surveillance, disease investigation and learning networks

Expected outputs

1. HPAI surveillance systems assessed and training needs identified
2. Effective evidence-based tools for targeting HPAI surveillance resources based on risk developed
3. HPAI surveillance practitioners trained in surveillance techniques, tools and approaches
4. Knowledge base with regard to HPAI expanded through regional and sub-regional linkages

Research Partners

• Development Organization - UN and international organization
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• The African Union/Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
• Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VSF-B), Belgium

Tags

Capacity building, disease control, Epidemiology, risk assessment