TADinfo software development started in November 1997 and the first version was installed on a trial basis in the United Republic of Tanzania in 1999. Since then, the software has been upgraded and, after five versions, it has been installed in about 38 countries. While many of these countries are still evaluating the suitability of the TADinfo software for use in their specific surveillance systems, the veterinary services of 12 countries have decided to adopt the TADinfo software as an integral and fully functional part of their national animal health information systems (see map for details).
EMPRES is committed to continuing the development, further deployment and support of TADinfo and has recently run initial and refresher training courses in Eritrea, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Tanzania. In addition, TADinfo software versions have recently been customized and deployed in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, the Philippines, Senegal and Uganda.
As detailed in a previous EMPRES Bulletin, work is well under way to develop the next generation of TADinfo, which will not rely on expensive software to run and can be used over a local area network. This is an aspect of functionality that has been requested by many users. As a result, it will be possible to input, edit and query data from anywhere on the network and, therefore, in countries that have a high throughput of disease reports, several data entry clerks can work at the same time. This new generation TADinfo will be available during the second quarter of 2002 and its release will also be announced in the EMPRES Bulletin.
The ways and means of transferring all the existing data that users may have entered in the Access version to the new Java version are also being explored. It is anticipated that a conversion program will be developed to facilitate seamless transfer between the two versions without data loss.
TADinfo use
The Animal Disease Monitoring and Surveillance (ADMAS) project in India has developed into a unique institution charged with epidemiological research. The ADMAS unit is made up of a small and highly dedicated group of individuals involved in the creation and testing of diagnostic kits for large-scale surveillance, software development and disease analysis.
Epitrak is a software program developed by ADMAS, utilizing database, GIS and statistical tools to analyse livestock disease data. It combines input modules for active and passive surveillance with output modules able to generate both tables and maps. Apart from giving standard disease/species/spatial analyses, Epitrak relates disease occurrence to soil and environmental factors. Predictive models are also included in the software. The software has been distributed widely within India and is already in use in some states.
Following a recent visit by an EMPRES epidemiologist, the ADMAS unit has embarked upon the utilization of satellite imagery in its work, and has begun to consider how economic impact data might be generated and used.
The ADMAS team working on Epitrak software
EMPRES/ ROGER PASKIN
From 5 to 9 November 2001, FAO organized a regional workshop on livestock diseases emergency preparedness in the Tanzanian city of Arusha. Twenty epidemiologists and animal disease managers (chief veterinary officers [CVOs] and veterinary representatives) from 11 countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional organization participated in the workshop. SADC is made up of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Arusha meeting was a follow-up to an earlier one organized by FAO in Pretoria, South Africa, on the theme "Surveillance and Early Warning" under the aegis of the same technical cooperation programme. The objective of the Arusha workshop was to review the progress of surveillance reporting in the SADC region and to raise awareness of emergency preparedness. Dr H. Schneider, a former CVO in Namibia and currently vice-president of the World Veterinary Association, brought his wide experience to the Arusha meeting. He participated as a facilitator.
The workshop was also a good occasion to demonstrate the EMPRES CD-ROM on Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP). The Java version of TADinfo was demonstrated, while the papers presented during the workshop will be organized on a CD-ROM for training purposes.
Issues such as the efficacy of surveillance and the epidemiologist's place in the disease management process that were earlier addressed during the Pretoria workshop were deliberated upon. This proved to be a good opportunity at which to ascertain the disease manager's point of view and expectations on the role of the epidemiology unit.
It was observed that most countries have now instituted an epidemiology unit. TADinfo software has also been deployed in a number of countries, while surveillance reporting has been enhanced.
The use of a harmonized standard disease reporting format and the target of monthly disease reporting were also discussed and recommended.
The experiences of Malawi and South Africa in the management of FMD disease emer-gencies were also presented during the workshop. Evidence-based disease management was illustrated by two examples: first, by the Botswana FMD threat originating from Zimbabwe and second, the United Republic of Tanzania's handling of CBPP occurrence.
The format and contents of a common national epidemic disease contingency plan, as outlined by FAO, were discussed in group meetings, while a simulation exercise offered a practical approach to issues that had been highlighted earlier. The simulation exercise emphasized the need for a pre-organized emergency preparedness plan.
SADC livestock sector national veterinary epidemiologists: the SADC Early Warning Network
for Transboundary Animal Diseases
BRUCE MUKANDA
Similarly, the importance of laboratory use in the analysis and confirmation of diseases was stressed, as was the importance of the other stakeholders, for example, private veterinary practitioners.
To enhance the harmonization of animal disease control in the SADC region, agreement was reached both on the use of a common emergency preparedness approach and on the use of a standard contingency plan format in all the SADC countries.
While the FMD threat in the SADC region seems to have stabilized and be under control, the CBPP threat in the United Republic of Tanzania is alarming, and almost the whole country is affected. Currently there are confirmed cases of CBPP in 53 out of 114 districts in the country. With this situation, the Tanzanian epidemiologists have called for the granting of a quarantine status to their country, coupled with the free delivery of vaccines.
The Arusha meeting brings the number of FAO-organized workshops in the SADC region under the regional technical cooperation projects (TCPs) to two, while other projects have been implemented under national TCPs. At the end of the Arusha workshop, a call for help was made to FAO by the participants, who strongly sought a follow-up to this current regional project.
From the foregoing, it is considered pertinent to maintain this regional approach, particularly now that a regional spirit among participants has been ignited and seems to be glowing. If there were any need for proof, the CBPP threat in the United Republic of Tanzania has illustrated the necessity for closer cooperation and the strengthening of the quality of surveillance.
Arusha workshop participants
EMPRES/GUILLAUME GERBIER