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Issue 52 | May 2009
AAHL scientists are supporting South-East
Asian countries in their efforts to control
and eradicate infectious animal diseases.
Chris Morrissy pictured here with two
Vietnam scientists
Scientists at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) are supporting South-East Asian countries in their efforts to control and eradicate infectious animal diseases.
Through implementation of the AAHL Regional Program, the Diagnosis Surveillance and Response (DSR) group transfers and supports diagnostic technology and enhances the capability for surveillance of and response to emerging and exotic (foreign) animal diseases.
This Program is building capacity and skills in disease diagnosis in South-East Asian laboratories, boosting the ability of countries in the region to manage and stamp out infectious animal diseases.
According to AAHL Assistant Director and DSR Theme Leader Peter Daniels, this support not only reduces the disease risks to the countries themselves but also assists the preparedness of Australian biosecurity through better threat assessment and management.
The Program is currently delivering on 13 projects, focussing on three animal diseases foreign to Australia:
In recognition of AAHL's efforts to control infectious diseases in the region, the facility received international recognition as an ‘OIE Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building for Veterinary Laboratories' in 2008*.
AAHL is the only laboratory worldwide to receive this designation.
‘In several countries AAHL has been nominated as a collaborator of choice in enhancing diagnostic capabilities and is a key place to which veterinary colleagues in the region look to for advice and services', Peter said.
'During the Nipah virus outbreak emergency in Malaysia in 1999, AAHL played an important regional role in capacity development that successfully eradicated the disease in Malaysia and established ‘proof of freedom' of Nipah virus in surrounding countries. AAHL remains ready to provide support to the region during any future dangerous zoonotic disease crisis.'
AAHL has worked with Australia's development assistance agency AusAID and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in developing laboratory capability to deal with the H5N1 AI epidemic, including the underpinning of technology development, biosafety training and quality assurance in laboratories throughout South-East Asia.
Within days of the World Health Organisation (WHO) announcing the current epidemic of 2009 Flu of North American origin and which contains swine influenza generic material, countries and international agencies in the region approached AAHL for transfer of a diagnostic capability to underpin proposed surveillance activities. The DSR group is currently responding to these requests.
Through such work AAHL's scientists gain essential field experience and further the knowledge of diseases exotic to Australia, assisting Australia to better prepare for an exotic animal disease outbreak and contributing significantly to pre-border surveillance.
Numerous organisations fund projects within AAHL's Regional Program including:
* OIE Collaborating Centres are centres of excellence in a specific area of expertise relating to animal health issues.
Participatory Disease Surveillance and Response (PDSR) meetings increase public awareness of viruses – such as bird flu – and lead to the reporting of new outbreaks
to the government veterinary services, providing further assistance
in disease control activities
