Originally from: mona parr
                        
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2004/041210a.htm
 
A Government internet site has brought the nation's animal disease surveillance information together for the first time.

The website, launched today by Defra's Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds, will provide a vital resource for anybody looking for information on animal health and welfare issues.

The Veterinary Surveillance Website includes an A-Z index of diseases affecting animals in the UK and abroad.

It contains facts, statistics and maps about farmed and domestic animals, and wildlife in the UK.

The website outlines how the UK authorities look for animal disease. It explains what veterinary surveillance is, why it's important, and who does it.

It also gives information on disease outbreaks around the world.

Visitors to the site can learn more about RADAR (Rapid Analysis and Detection of Animal-related Risks), a new information management system that collates veterinary surveillance data from a range of sources around the UK.

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said: "This is the first time that veterinary surveillance information covering the UK has been made available in one place.

"The website will be a useful tool for anyone interested in how we collect information about diseases and conditions affecting animals.

"The information is presented in easy-to-read style with user-friendly diagrams."

The website is the latest development in the 10-year Veterinary Surveillance Strategy that was launched in October 2003 as part of the overall Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

Veterinary Surveillance is a key component of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy developed by Defra, the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, and stakeholders.

Today's website launch coincides with the start of Defra's consultation on the Rabies Contingency Plan for England.

The draft contingency plan and control strategy cover the operational arrangements for handling an outbreak of the disease and the policies on which those arrangements would be based.

The draft rabies disease profile is included in this consultation to support the contingency plan and promote the concept of disease profiles to a wider audience.

Debby Reynolds said: "The consultation, like the website, is part of our ongoing commitment to improve understanding of animal health and welfare issues.

"Animal disease has an impact on everyone and the better informed we all are, the better we can tackle outbreaks if they happen."

The deadline for comment on the Rabies Contingency Plan is 4 March 2005.

Notes for editors

The surveillance website is at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/vetsurveillance/index.htm

The Rabies Contingency Plan Consultation is at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rabies-plan/index.htm