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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) announced July 24 that they have launched the Global Early Warning and Response System (GLEWS) as a tool to track the emergence and proliferation of zoonoses, animal diseases transmissible to humans.
A July 24 joint press release from the agencies describes GLEWS as a Web-based electronic platform that will combine data accumulated from all three agencies and their diverse constituencies to detect outbreaks or patterns of disease, and issue warnings as appropriate.
Background:
In January 2005, following the tsunami disaster, Secretary General Kofi Annan called for a global early warning system for all hazards and all communities. Later, as a step toward this goal, he requested the ISDR secretariat and its UN partners to undertake a global survey of capacities, gaps and opportunities in respect to early warning systems.
Sound scientific information, including an understanding of the environment and migratory bird populations, is a necessity for understanding the HPAI H5N1 epidemic. HPAI H5N1 is an avian virus. Humans and other mammals are currently aberrant hosts.
Early detection is essential for the control or eradication of Asian lineage HPAI H5N1. FAO, OIE, and WHO – Global Livestock Early Warning and Response System (GLEWS).
Based on other Global Networks
In April 2000, WHO and partners started the Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN) with the aim to combating the international spread of outbreaks among humans.
The achievements of GOARN are impressive. Since April 2000, the network has established detailed standard operating procedures and documents on its structure, an outbreak verification procedure, guiding principles on alert and response, logistical support, and a communications protocol, providing a basis for international collaboration during major outbreaks. However, GLEWS is still necessary.
GLEWS has the potential to be enhanced to also track the spread of HPAI H5N1 in populations of wild birds. The integration of The Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) into this EWS is encouraged. This system must be rapid, transparent, and have local, national and international levels.
Link to the PowerPoint Presentation of GLEWS
View the 6 minute video called Global Alert, Global Response (windows media player file) (very good)
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