The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)’s Scientific and Technical Review of Animal Health Data Management explores the decision-making and evidence required to effectively manage animal diseases and highlights the importance of governance considerations and organisations like WOAH in data surveillance, disease control and policy.
The review, comprising 23 papers and coordinated by Professor Stuart Reid, CBE, president and principal at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, includes studies ranging from the food animal sector to wildlife species and companion animal programmes.
It demonstrates how the success of animal disease management is intimately connected to the quality of data on which both strategic and operational decisions are based.
Further, the collection of studies and reviews in this publication illustrates the when, why and how of data use and the application of quantitative techniques from the macro (population) to the microbiological ends of the spectrum.
This highlights the importance of high-quality data in disease management and illustrates how data can inform policies and practices to protect animal and public health.
The Scientific and Technical Review of Animal Health Data Management is the latest publication by the RVC and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), which was recognised by WOAH as a Collaborating Centre for Risk Analysis and Modelling in 2019.
The Centre combines the research and consultancy expertise of the RVC and APHA, both of which have strong track records in working with others, including government and academic partners from more than 50 countries and 140 institutes in recent years.
Led by Professor Stuart Reid, the centre draws on the knowledge and skills of world-leading risk analysts, modellers, epidemiologists and animal health economists to deliver its work.
It focuses on five workstreams: data modelling, economic modelling, epidemiological and statistical modelling, mathematical modelling and risk analysis.
Through these workstreams, the centre provides expert advice and input on scientific research, standardisation of techniques and dissemination of knowledge on risk analysis and surveillance of threats to public health.
Since its launch, the centre has been promoting and facilitating the use of risk analysis and modelling to inform policies aimed at controlling disease and protecting public health.
Stuart said: “It has been a privilege to work with colleagues at WOAH in coordinating this most recent edition of the review.
“As the editorial makes clear, we live in a time of big data in a world that is getting smaller – and the scientific and policy offering from authors around the world exemplifies the importance of data in addressing the production and disease challenges we face as a planet.”
