(A141) Contingency Planning for Veterinary Public Health Emergencies

Abstract

In the cycle of dealing with emergencies one can distinguish four periods, that is planning, diagnosing, responding and recovering. Contingency planning is a prerequisite for emergency management in general. The principles of this planning, for Veterinary Public Health (VPH), does not differ from other cases. However, here will be seen from the point of view of VPH. VPH emergencies include zoonotic diseases and food safety aspects. Emergencies in VPH appear suddenly or expand gradually. Need to define responsibilities for proclaiming an emergency by rating the severity and ranking the situation in steps before deciding that an emergency is in place. One can suggest that surveillance is significant in relation to zoonotic diseases. In food safety, preventative Food Safety Management Systems, in which crisis management and consequent possible product recall actions are part of it, serve the same purpose. In both activities VPH is related with other professionals, a reality expressed, also, in government administrations with different services and/or agencies. Therefore, partnerships and interoperability between veterinarians and physicians on the one hand and other food professionals on the other should be established, for the purpose of efficiently serving the general public. These actions should be developed, as appropriate, in business, region or country level. In order to effectively mobilise the appropriate personnel training and simulation exercises should be part of preparedness. In preparedness, planning for early warning and early reaction should be considered as part of the overall contingency planning. In the various steps in dealing with emergencies the key tool for decision making is risk analysis, served through its three components, that is risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. This last one is very important in relation to communicating with the general public, so that a balanced informing will allow for general public diligent actions without panic.