title: The Caribbean animal health network: new tools for harmonization and reinforcement of animal disease surveillance.
abstract: The Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET) is a collaboration of veterinary services, diagnostic laboratories, research institutes, universities, and regional/international organizations to improve animal health in the Caribbean. New tools were used by the network to develop regional animal health activities: (1) A steering committee, a coordination unit, and working groups on specific diseases or activities were established. The working group on avian influenza used a collaborative Web site to develop a regionally harmonized avian influenza surveillance protocol and performance indicators. (2) A specific network was implemented on West Nile virus (WNV) to describe the WNV status of the Caribbean countries, to perform a technology transfer of WNV diagnostics, and to establish a surveillance system. (3) The CaribVET Web site (http://www.caribvet.net) encompasses information on surveillance systems, diagnostic laboratories, conferences, bibliography, and diseases of major concern in the region. It is a participatory Web site allowing registered users to add or edit information, pages, or data. An online notification system of sanitary information was set up for Guadeloupe to improve knowledge on animal diseases and facilitate early alert.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Belize.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gongora
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trotman
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Millien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: Pastor Alfonso
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Frias
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lepoureau
authors.forename: Siméon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phanord
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quirico
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pegram
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petitclerc
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chouin
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chavernac
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doyen
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vachiéry
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molia
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hendrikx
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lefrançois
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology