Industries

Epidemiology and Animal Health

• Which emerging diseases could pose a risk to your country?
• What is the risk of introduction of a disease associated with import of an animal product?
• Do you want to set-up a surveillance system to monitor the outbreak of animal diseases?

Quantitative Risk Analysis and simulation modeling can be used to assess the risk of introduction and spread of emerging diseases. Import risk analysis (IRA) provides countries with an objective, transparent and defensible method of assessing the disease risks associated with the importation of animals and animal products.

Risk-based surveillance protocols allow the early detection of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases such as avian influenza or bovine tuberculosis, or to quantitatively assess freedom from diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth disease. Risk-based epidemiological analyses can also provide veterinary authorities with decision support to control disease outbreaks. In addition to our involvement in numerous projects related to animal health, epidemiology, and risk analysis, we offer several courses related to this topic.

Compartmentalization is a disease management tool that seeks to define animal populations with a certain health status based on separation of these populations and the application of bio-security measures. Unlike traditional disease zoning, compartmentalization focuses on the maintenance of the health status by focusing efforts on management and bio-security in operations within the compartment. Vose Consulting can not only design novel quantitative methods to evaluate compartmentalization strategies, but also help with the practical implementation of compartments for different animal diseases.

Vose Risk Consulting has played a leading role in the development of this field including the main WTO international guidelines on Animal Health Risk Analysis which are based on David Vose's book "Risk Analysis - A Quantitative Guide".

Clients

• Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australia
• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Australia
• Australian Veterinary Society
• Biotechnological Institute, Holbergsvej, Norway
• Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
• Norsvin

Example Projects

RISK OF IMPORTATION OF FRESH SALMON

Problem and solution

Canada and Australia were in a long-running dispute over Australia 's ban of Canadian ocean-caught salmon due to a perceived risk of the introduction of salmonid disease from Canada to Australia. Australia was using a qualitative risk assessment to support their argument for the ban. Vose Risk Consulting demonstrated in a WTO court that the Canadian product represented an insignificant risk and Australia was required to remove its ban.

RISK OF PWMS THROUGH IMPORTATION OF PIG SEMEN

Problem and solution

The important trade between two countries of pig semen was in jeopardy because of the emergence of PCV2 virus in semen from the exporting country. Theories on the causal factors behind PMWS include PCV2. Vose Risk Consulting reviewed all the theories and reported cases of PMWS and determined the combination of causal factors, and was able to recommend a protocol that would minimize the spread of the syndrome to the importing country.

DEFENSE OF A NATIONAL ANIMAL IMPORTATION GUIDELINES

Problem and solution

Australia developed a comprehensive protocol and standards to determine in a consistent fashion whether animals and animal products should be allowed into Australia. Australia’s own pig industry challenged the protocol in court. Vose Risk Consulting successfully argued that the protocol was robust, consistent, met WTO requirements and was ‘best in class’.

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