The national animal health monitoring system: Fulfilling a commitment

Abstract

The food-animal industries, those associated with them, and those attempting to serve their needs have long been aware of the need for valid information on the occurrences, distributions, trends, and economic losses of animal diseases. Although the literature is filled with examples of individual workers and groups who have extolled the virtues and benefits of such information, there has been general disagreement about the methodology and the appropriate roles of those generating data. This has led to inaction and has undermined the development of an activity acknowledged as essential by so many. A Historical Survey of Animal Disease Morbidity and Mortality Reporting was published by The National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council in 1966 (Poppensieck and Budd, 1966). This report reviewed previous activities relating to animal disease reporting in the U.S.A. The report recognized that dependable statistics on morbidity and mortality of animals is a fundamental principle of successful disease prevention and control. Credit was given to past efforts (including experimental state programs and foreign programs), but the committee preparing the report recommended that a national system should be implemented to define animal disease problems accurately through effective morbidity and mortality reporting. In addition, the group recommends that a central agency should be established to coordinate and implement this effort.