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Influences of farmer and veterinarian behaviour on emerging disease surveillance in England and Wales

Gilbert, W H; Haesler, B; Rushton, J

Authors

W H Gilbert

B Haesler

J Rushton



Abstract

Surveillance for new and re-emerging animal diseases in England and Wales is based on post-mortem and syndromic analysis of laboratory data collated in a central database by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), with the aim of providing early warning of disease events prior to clinical diagnosis. Understanding the drivers for participation in such systems is critical to the success of attempts to improve surveillance sensitivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the decision-making process governing the submission of biological samples on which this surveillance system is based by use of questionnaires. Data extracted were used to structure and parameterize scenario trees modelling the probability of generating an entry in the surveillance database. The mean probability for database entry per case ranged from 0·085 for neurological disorders to 0·25 for enteric disease. These findings illustrate the importance of on-farm decision making to the generation of surveillance data.

Citation

Gilbert, W. H., Haesler, B., & Rushton, J. (2014). Influences of farmer and veterinarian behaviour on emerging disease surveillance in England and Wales. Epidemiology and Infection, 142(1), 172-181. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268813000484

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 8, 2013
Publication Date Jan 1, 2014
Deposit Date Nov 11, 2014
Journal EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
Print ISSN 0950-2688
Electronic ISSN 1469-4409
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 142
Issue 1
Pages 172-181
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268813000484
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1406201