Dealing with animal disease emergencies requires careful planning and meticulous execution. EMPRES has developed a multimedia program entitled Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP), available on CD-ROM and on the FAO/EMPRES Web site www.fao.org/AGA/AGAH/EMPRES/GEMP.htm, to promote the concept of a code of practice in dealing with animal disease emergencies.
GEMP is the sum total of organized procedures, structures and resource management that lead to early detection of disease or infection in an animal population, prediction of the likely spread, prompt limitation, targeted control and elimination with subsequent re-establishment of verifiable freedom from infection in accordance with the OIE International Animal Health Code. The following diagram summarizes the underlying principles.
HandistatusII is a computer application providing access to monthly and annual OIE data. This new application is now available on the OIE Web site at the following address: www.oie.int/eng/info/en_bdd.htm
African swine fever (ASF) is the main disease threat to the development of the pig industry in Africa. Periodically it has extended to other continents causing heavy losses. There is no vaccine or treatment for ASF and therefore control depends on the exclusion and/or elimination of the virus from an area. Fundamental to the success of this strategy is the ability to detect the signs of the disease early and take prompt measures to eliminate infection. The purpose of this manual is to enhance recognition of ASF wherever and whenever it occurs. It is hoped that the manual will be useful for veterinary field personnel, farmers and pig breeders in rural and peri-urban areas. A pdf version of the manual can be downloaded from the EMPRES Web site - click here