For example, WOAH (funded as OIE)'s scientific commission for animal diseases was created at the organization's inception in 1946, “to provide scientific guidance to the OIE on the development of policies relating to the assessment and control of diseases, notably those with the potential to affect trade in terrestrial animals and their products or affect human health.” Intergovernmental organizations recognize such need and have developed strategies to regularly update guidelines, recommendations, and standards. Science is dynamic in nature, and, for that reason, there is a need to regularly review and revise standards, and to account for advancements and new scientific developments. Additionally, the need for following and implementing science-based approaches is recognized by the three organizations in a variety of documents, such as the tripartite concept note on sharing responsibilities and coordinating global activities to address health risks at the animal-human-ecosystems interfaces ( 1). Intergovernmental organizations with a mission relevant to animal health and production, such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the WHO, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognize the need for improving the use and application by relevant stakeholders of epidemiology and social sciences tools (including, for example, diagnostic, data analysis and risk assessments, and communication) with the ultimate goal of managing zoonotic and high impact diseases of animals and humans. Accordingly, there is a strong need for synergistic, transdisciplinary teams to address these socio-political and economic aspects of disease risk, dynamics, and impacts.Īlternative ideas and approaches are required to better understand the ways in which the animal health system may be modified and effected to reduce the risk for disease and promote health. A particular gap is in understanding the contextual drivers that underpin and influence the dynamics of animal disease outbreaks and complicate their control. Despite progress made in the control of many animal diseases, and on the development of science-based solutions to mitigate the potential impacts of current and emerging health challenges, much work still needs to be done to exploit the impacts of this progress on global animal health.
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