February 28, 2012 One Health IEG

The One Health Intellectual Exchange Group (IEG).  A weekly discussion series, sponsored by the North Carolina One Health Collaborative to enhance collaborations between physicians, veterinarians, researchers and other local/global/environmental health professionals by increasing public awareness of the interconnectedness of people, animals and the environment.

The West Nile Virus Outbreak of 1999: A Compelling Case for One Health 

Tracey S. McNamara, DVM, DACVP Professor of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine Western University of Health Sciences

Tuesday, February 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

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The West Nile Virus Outbreak of 1999: A Compelling Case for One Health 

Tracey S. McNamara bio

Learning objectives:

• Recognition of the factors that delayed recognition of the West Nile virus in 1999
• Recognition of the factors that continue to hamper recognition of diseases at the human-animal interface

Abstract:

At least 65 percent of recent major disease outbreaks have been of zoonotic origin. With most emerging infectious diseases arising from animal origins, linking human and animal surveillance systems will be critical to an effective disease identification and control in the future. Lack of this linkage has been the focus of a number of important policy papers in recent years. These have expressed concern over the continued lack of preparedness for addressing zoonotic threats and have called for a new approach to integrating biosurveillance. It has been ten years since the public health “wake-up call” of West Nile virus, but many issues remain unaddressed. Until they are, they will continue to pose barriers to integrating biosurveillance in the future.

Recommended reading:

• Drexler, M.  2002.  Winged Victories.  In Secret Agents: the Menace of Emerging Infections.  Washington D.C., Joseph Henry Press.http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10232
• Miller, J. et al.  2001.  Defenders.  In Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War.  New York, Simon & Schuster.http://www.judithmiller.com/books/germs
• Scott, Esther.  2012.  The West Nile Virus Outbreak in New York City.  Kennedy School of Government Case Program, Cambridge, MA.(A): On the Trail of a Killer Virus - http://www.ksgcase.harvard.edu/casetitle.asp?caseNo=1645.0(B): The City Responds - http://www.ksgcase.harvard.edu/caseTitle.asp?caseNo=1646.0(B): The City Responds (Sequel) - http://www.ksgcase.harvard.edu/caseTitle.asp?caseNo=1646.1
• Steele, K.E. et al.  2000.  Pathology of Fatal West Nile Virus Infections in Native and Exotic Birds during the 1999 Outbreak in New York City, New York.  Veterinary Pathology.  37:208-224 http://vet.sagepub.com/content/37/3/208.long
• U.S. Government Accountability Office.  2000.  West Nile Virus Outbreak: Lessons for Public Health Preparedness.  Available online at: http://www.gao.gov/products/HEHS-00-180