Notification of diseases, infections and infestations, and provision of epidemiological information

Article 1.1.1.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code and in terms of Articles 5, 9 and 10 of the OIE Organic Statutes, Member Countries shall recognise the right of the Headquarters to communicate directly with the Veterinary Authority of its territory or territories.

All notifications and all information sent by the OIE to the Veterinary Authority shall be regarded as having been sent to the country concerned and all notifications and all information sent to the OIE by the Veterinary Authority shall be regarded as having been sent by the country concerned.

Article 1.1.2.

1. Member Countries shall make available to other Member Countries, through the OIE, whatever information is necessary to minimise the spread of important animal diseases, and their pathogenic agents, and to assist in achieving better worldwide control of these diseases.

2. To achieve this, Member Countries shall comply with the notification requirements specified in Articles 1.1.3. and 1.1.4.

3. For the purposes of this chapter, an 'event' means a single outbreak or a group of epidemiologically related outbreaks of a given disease, infection or infestation that is the subject of a notification. An event is specific to a pathogenic agent and strain, when appropriate, and includes all related outbreaks reported from the time of the immediate notification through to the final report. Reports of an event include susceptible species, number and geographical distribution of affected animals and epidemiological units.

4. To assist in the clear and concise exchange of information, reports shall conform as closely as possible to the OIE disease reporting format.

5. The detection of the pathogenic agent of a listed disease in an animal should be reported, even in the absence of clinical signs. Recognising that scientific knowledge concerning the relationship between diseases and their pathogenic agents is constantly developing and that the presence of a pathogenic agent does not necessarily imply the presence of a disease, Member Countries shall ensure, through their reports, that they comply with the spirit and intention of point 1) above.

6. In addition to notifying new findings in accordance with Articles 1.1.3. and 1.1.4., Member Countries shall also provide information on the measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases, infections and infestations. Information shall include quarantine measures and restrictions applied to the movement of animals, animal products, biological products and other miscellaneous objects which could by their nature be responsible for the transmission of diseases, infections or infestations. In the case of diseases transmitted by vectors, the measures taken against such vectors shall also be specified.

Article 1.1.3.

Veterinary Authorities shall, under the responsibility of the Delegate, send to the Headquarters:

1. in accordance with relevant provisions in the disease-specific chapters, notification, through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) or by fax or email within 24 hours, of any of the following events:
   

   1. first occurrence of a listed disease, infection or infestation in a country, a zone or a compartment;

   2. recurrence of a listed disease, infection or infestation in a country, a zone or a compartment following the final report that declared the outbreak ended;

   3. first occurrence of a new strain of a pathogenic agent of a listed disease, infection or infestation in a country, a zone or a compartment;

   4. a sudden and unexpected change in the distribution or increase in incidence or virulence of, or morbidity or mortality caused by, the pathogenic agent of a listed disease, infection or infestation present within a country, a zone or a compartment;

   5. occurrence of a listed disease, infection or infestation in an unusual host species;

2. weekly reports subsequent to a notification under point 1) above, to provide further information on the evolution of the event which justified the notification. These reports should continue until the disease, infection or infestation has been eradicated or the situation has become sufficiently stable so that six-monthly reporting under point 3) will satisfy the obligation of the Member Country; for each event notified, a final report should be submitted;

3. six-monthly reports on the absence or presence and evolution of listed diseases, infections or infestations and information of epidemiological significance to other Member Countries;

4. annual reports concerning any other information of significance to other Member Countries.

Article 1.1.4.

Veterinary Authorities shall, under the responsibility of the Delegate, send to the Headquarters:

1. a notification through WAHIS or by fax or email, when an emerging disease has been detected in a country, a zone or a compartment;
   

2. periodic reports subsequent to a notification of an emerging disease:

   1. for the time necessary to have reasonable certainty that:

      1. the disease, infection or infestation has been eradicated; or

      2. the situation has become stable;

   OR

   2. until sufficient scientific information is available to determine whether it meets the criteria for inclusion in the OIE list as described in Chapter 1.2.;

3. a final report once point 2 a) or b) above is complied with.

Article 1.1.5.

1. The Veterinary Authority of a country in which an infected zone is located shall inform the Headquarters when this zone or the entire country becomes free from the disease, infection or infestation.

2. A country or zone may be considered to have regained freedom from a specific disease, infection or infestation when all relevant conditions given in the Terrestrial Code have been fulfilled.

3. The Veterinary Authority of a Member Country which establishes one or several free zones shall inform the Headquarters giving necessary details, including the criteria on which the free status is based, the requirements for maintaining the status and indicating clearly the location of the zones on a map of the territory of the Member Country.

Article 1.1.6.

1. Although Member Countries are only required to notify listed diseases, infections and infestations and emerging diseases, they are encouraged to provide the OIE with other important animal health information.

2. The Headquarters shall communicate by email or through the interface of WAHIS to Veterinary Authorities all notifications received as provided in Articles 1.1.2. to 1.1.5. and other relevant information.

nb: first adopted in 1968; most recent update adopted in 2016.