Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet

1. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet Pig Disease Information Centre (a non-clinical veterinary practice in 2001) Dr. Mike Meredith Presented at: FMD 2001 Conference Manchester March 2006 Slides + Links available at: www.pighealth.com/AHIS.htm

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3. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Accessing internet resources • Creating/Managing quality resources • Where are we heading?

4. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics Use of the Internet • Accessing quality resources 1. Reputable portal websites 2. Animal HealthInformation Specialists (AHIS UK) 3. Newsgroups(pref. specialist + moderated) UK • Farmtalking • FMDNew • FW interactive INTERNATIONAL • ProMED • Epivet-L • Swine-L • AnimalNet/FSNet

5. Newsgroups: Animal Net CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER: GERMANY & SPAINApril 11, 2002 European CommissionThe Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health voted in favour of European Commission proposals with regard to classical swine fever (CSF) in Germany and Spain.For Germany, in response to outbreaks of CSF, the export of live pigs and porcine semen, ova and embryos from a part of Rhineland-Palatinate has been banned. For Spain, the existing measures, applicable until 30 April, will be extended until 31 May.

6. FSNet Newsgroups: PORCINE SALMONELLA MONITORING MANUALDecember 8, 2000 Pig Disease Information Centre UK The UK pig industry has been shocked this week by the publication of a Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) survey revealing Salmonella contamination in 5.3 per cent of pig carcasses in abattoirs. The problem is compounded by the presence of multi-antibiotic resistant strains.MAFF estimate that nearly 23 per cent of Britain's pigs, are affected by salmonella.  Salmonella control problems are being hastily instituted or revised and we are providing a free downloadable manual on Salmonella  surveillance in pork and live pigs at:   www.pighealth.com/salmonella.htm

7. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Accessing quality resources 1. Animal HealthInformation Specialists 2. Newsgroups 3. Regulatory & Agencywebsites National Governments OIE (World Animal Health Organization) EU FAO WHO

8. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet: • Accessing quality resources 1. Information Specialists 2. Newsgroups 3. Regulatory Agencywebsites 4. Specialist Technical Infowebsites 5. Mediawebsites: TV, Radio, Newspapers 6. “Textbook” websites: • “Consultant” • “The Supercourse”

9. 6. “Textbook” type websites:

10. 6. “Textbook” websites: Available at: www.pighealth.com

11. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Accessing resources • Creating resources • Where are we heading?

12. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Creating resources Resource Types (often mixed): • Archive • Commercial • News tracking • Regulatory • Technical info • Comment, discussion, opinion

13. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Creating Quality Internet Resources Issues to consider: • Contribution v Duplication • Breaking news v Verification • Database v Structured • Detail v Conciseness • Focussed v Comprehensive • Volume v Quality • Networking v Userbase • Low cost v Added value Vital features: Site Search, Site Map

14. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: On the Internet • Creating Internet Resources – QUALITY CONTROL! Internet Users Hate… • slow downloads • URL instability (dud links) • PoorIndexing (metatags) • Information overload! • Poor quality info • Lack of cross-links (internal/external) • Document “dumping” (format not web-friendly) • “Framed” websites • Low use of hypertext • Complex & Crowded page structures • Excessive graphics

15. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Accessing resources • Creating resources • Where are we heading?

16. Tracking & Archiving Disease Information Use of the Internet Where are we heading? - Changes in progress Epidemic Management: Evolution & Revolution! On-line community = Empowerment! • Information access • Communication & Self-expression • Networking Moving towards… “ Holistic Epidemiology!”

17. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics - Use of the Internet “Holistic Epidemiology” FMD 2001 raised awareness of… • Expert fallability • Community power • Wide impact of epidemic management strategies • Need for epidemic managers to consider… • consumer impact of disease epidemics • economic factors • environmental impacts • emotional & psychological factors • political implications & agendas • social consequences of epidemics • trade factors • welfare (animal & human) consequences

18. Tracking & Archiving Epidemics: Use of the Internet • Accessing resources • Creating resources • Where are we heading? (Holistic Epidemic Management & Archiving) These Slides + Links available at www.pighealth.com/AHIS.htm