Ontario
Animal Health Surveillance Network
Good health among animals is
not only good for the animals, it also supports economic, public and environmental
health. The current Ontario Animal Health System consists of provincial and federal
government programs and measures, a number of private sector resources and initiatives,
as well as animal health expertise and academic research to support the system.
In addition, government expertise and resources in the public health system help
to protect people from the negative impacts of animal health issues.
Animal
health surveillance provides critical information to assist in the management
of risks to these systems. Ontario has a network of skilled people, facilities
and evolving systems that can be thought of as the Ontario Animal Health Surveillance
Network (OAHSN). This OAHSN integrates information from many sources and serves
as a cornerstone of the larger Ontario Animal Health System and related public
health. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and
the University of Guelph provide core members to the OAHSN. This core OAHSN group
has specialists in veterinary diagnostics, disease investigation, epidemiology,
meat inspection, technology transfer and policy development. These specialists
maintain links to other disease surveillance sources in other provinces, as well
as at national and international levels.
A more detailed description of
the OAHSN may be found at:
http://www.labservices.uoguelph.ca/labserv/units/ahl/files/OAHSN-2009-v3-3b-%20FINAL.pdf
including its vision, mission, activities and outcomes, within the context of
a broader, evolving animal health system. Also described are OAHSN objectives,
scope, infrastructure, skill-sets, sources of information, definitions, contacts,
guidelines for follow-up investigations, some past accomplishments, current and
future projects, and next steps for continuous improvement. Since 1998, this is
the fifth edition of this document, describing the Ontario Animal Health Surveillance
Network. The network is by no means perfect, but it is believed to be moving in
the right direction.
Key contacts for the OAHSN are listed in the following
table.
| Name
& Affiliation | Training |
Contact Information |
Jim Richardson, Director,
Animal Health & Welfare Branch OMAFRA | | (519)
826-3577
jim.richardson@ontario.ca |
Dr. Grant Maxie, Director
Animal Health Laboratory,
University
of Guelph | DVM PhD
Diplomate ACVP | (519) 824-4120 x54544
gmaxie@uoguelph.ca |
Dr. David Alves, Manager
Veterinary Science & Policy
AHWB, OMAFRA
| DVM PhD | (519) 826-3127
david.alves@ontario.ca |
Dr. Robert Vanderwoude, Manager
Veterinary Services
AHWB, OMAFRA, | DVM
MSc | (519) 826-6364
robert.vanderwoude@ontario
.ca |
Dr. Leslie Woodcock, Manager
Veterinary
Inspection and Audit Unit
Food Inspection Branch, OMAFRA | DVM | (519)
826-6582
leslie.woodcock@ontario.ca |
Dr. Bruce McNab,*
Epidemiology
AHWB, OMAFRA | DVM
PhD | (519) 826-4178
bruce.mcnab@ontario.ca |
Kathy Zurbrigg
Surveillance Analyst
AHWB, OMAFRA
Elora, ON | BSc RVT MSc | (519) 846-3418
kathy.zurbrigg@ontario.ca |
Dr. Beverly McEwen,**
Animal Health Laboratory,
University
of Guelph | DVM MSc PhD
Diplomate ACVP | (519)
824-4120 x54537
bmcewen@lsd.uoguelph.ca |
* primary contact within OMAFRA for OAHSN
** primary
contact within AHL for OAHSN
