Veterinary Epidemiologist/Para-Epidemiologist Project

The Veterinary Epidemiologist/Para-Epidemiologist Project (VEP) is a regional project aimed at strengthening veterinary infrastructure in the Caribbean basin. The project focuses on enabling risk-based, epidemiologically-sound surveillance for priority animal diseases in the Caribbean such as the tropical bont tick, heartwater (Cowdria ruminatum), bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, avian influenza, and classical swine fever, as well as other transboundary animal diseases, through the training and professional development of veterinary epidemiologists or para-epidemiologists.

Project start date:

01/05/2008

Project end date:

01/09/2012

Objectives

General objective

To establish an early detection and rapid response system in the Caribbean region through the implementation and reinforcement of harmonised and sustainable epidemiological surveillance systems for TBT&TBD, TADs and other priority / emerging diseases.

Specific objectives

  • Develop and reinforce national surveillance systems in targeted Caribbean countries
  • Encourage private-public partnership
  • Encourage animal health-public health partnership
  • Develop and initiate harmonised surveillance protocols for animal diseases with focus on priority diseases
  • Create, strenghthen and maintain coordinated and harmonized national and regional databases
  • Human capacity building and infrastructure enhancement
  • Support and operate a rapid national and regional emergency respond task force
  • Strenghten the existing CaribVET network and the collaboration between the member countries and regional/international organizations

Description

Regional activities

  • Participate in the evaluation of national surveillance network in their country or in another country (SNAT tool)
  • Assist the planning, development and conducting of simulation exercises
  • Be available in case of an emergency and when requested by their CVO

National activities

  • Assist in the building of the epidemiological surveillance network by adapting surveillance protocols on the basis of models established by the CaribVET working groups
  • Coordinate sample collection, preparation and submission to national and regional laboratories
  • Management of the epidemiological surveillance database, GIS systems (and, according to the country, contribute to farmer register and livestock census databases)
  • Review of national emergency plans and adapt them on the basis of models established by the CaribVET working groups
  • Establishing contacts with farmers, producers, producer organizations, suppliers, private veterinarians and other stakeholders
  • Prepare and submit activity reports to the CVO
  • Conducting specific disease prevalence surveys

Partners

IICA, USDA-APHIS-IS, and the French Agricultural Development Agency (CIRAD) serve as the technical coordinators of the VEP project. In addition, the Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVet) serves as a regional coordinator of the project, ensuring that the project continues to meet the needs of the Caribbean countries.

Teams

The project currently involves ten participants from ten different islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.

Foundings

The VEP project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – International Services (USDA-APHIS-IS).