6.6 Reporting

Close collaboration between neighbouring countries is essential in managing aquatic animal disease risks. The rapid and transparent sharing of information on new disease occurrences, the spread of existing epidemic diseases to areas with shared waterbodies, and information relating to control measures can provide valuable early warning to allow countries to implement an appropriate response (Subasinghe, McGladdery and Hill, 2004).

Reporting of disease status and outbreak events should be transparent and include risk communication strategies that facilitate an open and active interchange of information among all stakeholders, with the aim of promoting public trust and confidence in regulatory decisions and control measures (FAO, 2007a). Such information should be shared among respective competent authorities, responsible government agencies, local, district, provincial or regional management offices, laboratories and scientific research institutions, and industry associations (Subasinghe, McGladdery and Hill, 2004). Membership of international and regional intergovernmental organizations with a mandate for aquatic animal health management obliges countries to report surveillance data on occurrence and prevalence of regulated and emerging aquatic animal diseases timeously, accurately and conscientiously, as appropriate (Subasinhge, McGladdery and Hill, 2004).
To ensure transparency of aquatic animal disease situations on a global basis, OIE member countries undertake to report on aquatic disease outbreaks and to notify the presence or absence of OIE-listed diseases. Submission of data to the OIE is performed through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), and submitted official information is made immediately available to member countries through the World Animal Health Information Database (WAHID) Interface (www.oie.int/wahid). On a regional basis, there are a number of other international reporting systems. Asia-Pacific countries report to the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA)/FAO and the OIE Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System.

North Atlantic countries report to ICES. European countries report to EIFAC (Subasinghe, McGladdery and Hill, 2004). Documented field observations, research data, scientific publications and other sources of information are used to complement surveillance data. Reports to the OIE are usually prepared by the national competent authority of each country and are submitted to the OIE by the national delegate (usually the chief veterinary officer) of the OIE member country. The OIE Aquatic Code obliges member countries to submit notifications to the OIE within 24 hours of confirmation of any of the following events:
• a first occurrence or recurrence of any OIE-listed disease in a country or zone of the country if the zone or country was previously believed to be free of that particular disease;
• an OIE-listed disease that has occurred in a new host species;
• an OIE-listed disease that has occurred with a new pathogen strain or in a new disease manifestation;
• there is potential for international spread of an OIElisted disease;
• an OIE-listed disease has a newly recognized zoonotic potential; or
• if in the case of an emerging disease or pathogenic agent not listed by the OIE, there should be findings that are of epidemiological significance to other countries.
Monthly reports summarizing the disease situation are submitted until the disease has been eradicated, or the situation has been brought under control.
FAO’s Quarterly Early Warning Bulletin, a result of a collaboration between the Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES) for transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases and food safety threats, the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) and the Food Chain Crisis Management Framework (FCC) (www.fao.org/food-chain-crisis/early-warning-bulletin/en/), integrates information on threats to the food chain and food security for the three months ahead. Aquatic diseases are included in the bulletin.