Surveillance against the odds: Can we meet the expectations of both science and policy? : [Part A - Oral presentations]

Surveillance of animal diseases at a national, regional or global level should take into account multiple and very diverse odds. These may include complex political, social, economic and natural environments, a diversity of situations regarding animal health and variable levels of technical expertise, major political or financial constraints and global changes (climatic, environmental or anthropologic). The drivers of these changes, which could be severe in some specific environments such as small territories, should be understood. Opportunities exist to overcome these challenges (mathematical modeling, IT based information, metagenomics and new diagnostics etc), however we strongly believe that a complex issue can only be solved by an integrated, multidisciplinary and intersectorial approach, taking into account political and economic priorities such as protecting animal and public health, ensuring food security and facilitating competitiveness in international trade. This paper reviews the advantages and conditions for an efficient collaboration between science and policy by practically addressing the questions raised by policy makers to researchers and vice versa with a view of mutual understanding and common objective of an improved surveillance and control of animal diseases. Key messages of this collaboration include how surveillance policies, both national and regional are shaped by the political, economic and social environment and how science can help surveillance through efficient prevention, set up of research and diagnostic platforms, integrated multidisciplinary approach and improved surveillance systems. Practical examples of the benefit of this tight interaction are presented as priority settings and co-building of research questions, cost effective scientifically based surveillance and demonstration of cost-benefit of surveillance. The benefits for science include gap analysis of research priorities, access to the field and to samples, possibility of developing long term research, facilitation of funding of research, impact oriented methodology publications and prevention of duplication of activities. The science must however be tailored to cater to national and regional priority needs and the research objectives must aim to demonstrate clear economic and social benefits in order to ensure acceptance by policy makers. We will take several examples of efficient collaborations and mutual benefits at a regional level within the Caribbean animal health network CaribVET and will explain how this collaboration can be efficiently formalized. We will highlight the need for international cooperation using competencies and capacities from Northern and Southern laboratories in tight cooperation with international organizations. Pathogens gain access to new ecological niches, new territories and new hosts thanks to an impressive adaptation to its environment. Humans respond with improved surveillance, technological and medical innovation for research and for drug and vaccine design. Between pathogens and hosts, the race is still on. Let us call for global "Human Intelligence" using international cooperation, disciplinary integration, and generosity, to tackle the complex issue of controlling diseases.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Trotman, Mark, Lefrançois, Thierry
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	s.n.
Subjects:	L73 - Maladies des animaux, E14 - Économie et politique du développement, C30 - Documentation et information,
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/573615/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/573615/1/document_573615.pdf
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