Estudio de caso. Sector de la sanidad animal frente al huracán «Irma¼ en Cuba.

This case study outlines the actions of Cuba's Veterinary Service, as part of the country's disaster risk reduction and management system, in response to Hurricane Irma. The phenomenon affected ten of Cuba's 15 provinces and caused significant damage in 53 of its municipalities (29.6%). During the response effort, the pre-established measures for the various phases (warning, alert and emergency) were deployed according to the disaster reduction plans for each level. In all provinces, animals were protected by moving them to safer locations, allowing for pre-established sanitary measures and technical assistance. Nonetheless, damage was incurred, mainly to the roofs of some animal housing. The following deaths were recorded: 210,150 poultry, 2,752 cattle (of which 73.8% were calves) and 866 pigs (of which 68% were young animals). In addition, 7% of the inventory of hives was damaged and 3.3% of hives were lost. Damage to infrastructure included: 466 poultry houses, 1,422 cattle houses, 431 pig houses, 1,200 wind pumps and 13 of the country's 17 feed concentrate plants. As no major damage was reported to the Veterinary Service's facilities (laboratories and offices), its viability was guaranteed at all times. Rapid damage assessment enabled priorities for rehabilitation and recovery actions to be set, with the result that, just three months after the hurricane had struck, 67% of the poultry houses and 33% of the pig houses had been restored. This article focuses on preparedness, response and lessons learned.

Dans cette étude de cas, les auteurs retracent les activités menées lors du passage de l'ouragan Irma par les Services vétérinaires cubains, en tant que composante du système d'atténuation et de gestion du risque de catastrophe. Le phénomène a touché dix des quinze provinces du pays, entraînant des destructions importantes dans 56 communes (29,6 %). Lors de la réponse, les moyens prévus dans les plans de réduction des catastrophes pour les différentes phases (information, alerte et intervention d'urgence) ont été déployés à chaque niveau. Dans chaque province, la protection des animaux a été assurée en les évacuant vers des lieux plus sûrs, en appliquant les mesures sanitaires prévues et en mettant en place une assistance technique. L'ouragan a néanmoins occasionné des dégâts, en particulier la destruction de la couverture de nombreuses installations d'élevage. Les pertes enregistrées dans les cheptels se sont réparties comme suit : 210 150 volailles, 2 752 bovins (dont 73,8 % de veaux) et 866 porcs (dont 68 % de porcelets). En ce qui concerne les ruches, 7 % d'entre elles ont subi des dommages et 3,3 % ont été détruites. En termes d'infrastructures, des dégâts ont été enregistrés sur 466 bâtiments avicoles, 1 422 bâtiments d'élevage bovin, 431 bâtiments d'élevage porcin, 1 200 pompes éoliennes et 13 des 17 usines de production de concentrés pour l'alimentation animale. Les installations des Services vétérinaires (laboratoires et bureaux) n'ont subi aucun dommage grave, de sorte que ces Services sont restés opérationnels en permanence. L'évaluation rapide des dégâts a permis d'établir les priorités concernant les mesures de reconstruction et de redressement. Trois mois seulement après le passage de l'ouragan, 67 % des bâtiments avicoles et 33 % des bâtiments d'élevage porcin étaient réparés. Les auteurs soulignent les mesures de préparation et de réponse ainsi que les leçons apprises.

Este artículo esboza las acciones del Servicio Veterinario como parte del sistema cubano de reducción y gestión del riesgo de desastres ante el huracán «Irma¼, en forma de estudio de caso. El fenómeno afectó a 10 de las 15 provincias del país y ocasionó daños importantes en 53 de sus municipios (29,6%). Durante la respuesta, se desplegaron las medidas preestablecidas para las diferentes fases (informativa, de alerta y de emergencia) en los planes de reducción de desastres correspondientes a cada nivel. En todas las provincias se protegieron animales trasladándolos a lugares más seguros, garantizando las medidas sanitarias preestablecidas y la asistencia técnica. No obstante, se produjeron daños, fundamentalmente en techos de algunas instalaciones de crianza. Se registró la muerte de: 210 150 aves de corral, 2 752 bovinos (un 73,8% eran terneros) y 866 porcinos (un 68% eran crías). También sufrió daño el 7% del inventario de colmenas, y se perdió un 3,3% de las colmenas. Los daños en infraestructuras comprendieron: 466 naves de producción avícola; 1 422 naves de producción bovina, 431 naves de producción porcina; 1 200 molinos a viento y 13 de 17 fábricas de alimento concentrado. No se reportaron daños de importancia en las instalaciones del Servicio Veterinario (laboratorios y oficinas), por lo que su viabilidad estuvo garantizada en todo momento. La rápida evaluación de los daños posibilitó establecer prioridades respecto a las acciones de rehabilitación y recuperación, y tan solo tres meses después del impacto del huracán, el 67% de las naves de producción avícola y el 33% de las de producción porcina estaban recuperadas. Se destacan los preparativos, la respuesta y las lecciones aprendidas.

Development of an active risk-based surveillance strategy for avian influenza in Cuba.

The authors designed a risk-based approach to the selection of poultry flocks to be sampled in order to further improve the sensitivity of avian influenza (AI) active surveillance programme in Cuba. The study focused on the western region of Cuba, which harbours nearly 70% of national poultry holdings and comprise several wetlands where migratory waterfowl settle (migratory waterfowl settlements - MWS). The model took into account the potential risk of commercial poultry farms in western Cuba contracting from migratory waterfowl of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes through dispersion for pasturing of migratory birds around the MWS. We computed spatial risk index by geographical analysis with Python scripts in ESRI(®) ArcGIS 10 on data projected in the reference system NAD 1927-UTM17. Farms located closer to MWS had the highest values for the risk indicator pj and in total 31 farms were chosen for targeted surveillance during the risk period. The authors proposed to start active surveillance in the study area 3 weeks after the onset of Anseriformes migration, with additional sampling repeated twice in the same selected poultry farms at 15 days interval (Comin et al., 2012; EFSA, 2008) to cover the whole migration season. In this way, the antibody detectability would be favoured in case of either a posterior AI introduction or enhancement of a previous seroprevalence under the sensitivity level. The model identified the areas with higher risk for AIV introduction from MW, aiming at selecting poultry premises for the application of risk-based surveillance. Given the infrequency of HPAI introduction into domestic poultry populations and the relative paucity of occurrences of LPAI epidemics, the evaluation of the effectiveness of this approach would require its application for several migration seasons to allow the collection of sufficient reliable data.

[Design and implementation of a national serum bank for the surveillance of exotic animal diseases in the Republic of Cuba]. / Diseño e instauración de un banco nacional de sueros para la vigilancia de enfermedades exóticas de los animales en la República de Cuba.

A serum bank for the surveillance of exotic diseases was designed in accordance with the provisions of the Information and Epizootiological Surveillance System in the Republic of Cuba. Sera were collected from imported animals, from sentinel animals used for monitoring target areas at biological risk and from animals located in high animal-density areas. Methodologies were developed for the selection and characterisation of target areas at biological risk and sentinel animal points, the collection and storage of serum samples and the management of the national animal serum bank. After developing the methodologies, the serum bank was established throughout Cuba. The national animal serum bank operates using a quality management system based on the recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health and the International Organization for Standardization.