The Caribbean animal health network: new tools for harmonization and reinforcement of animal disease surveillance.
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.
Gongora
Victor
V
Ministry of Agriculture, Belize.
Trotman
Mark
M
Thomas
Reginald
R
Max
Millien
M
Zamora
Pastor Alfonso
PA
Lepoureau
Maria Teresa Frias
MT
Phanord
Siméon
S
Quirico
Jocelyn
J
Douglas
Kirk
K
Pegram
Rupert
R
Martinez
Dominique
D
Petitclerc
Martial
M
Chouin
Emilie
E
Marchal
Céline
C
Chavernac
David
D
Doyen
David
D
Vachiéry
Nathalie
N
Molia
Sophie
S
Hendrikx
Pascal
P
Lefrançois
Thierry
T
D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology