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CHAPTER
[03]

Comprehensive Disease Intelligence

The Knowledge Hub contains detailed information across multiple domains. All information is designed to support informed decision-making during animal health management. Let us explore exactly what is available and how this information is structured.

1. Emergency Animal Disease Profiles

Over 100 Diseases Across Species

The Knowledge Hub covers significant diseases affecting:

  • Cattle: Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Johne's Disease, Mastitis, Anthrax
  • Sheep & Goats: Scrapie, Bluetongue, Ovine Johne's Disease, Caseous Lymphadenitis, Foot Rot
  • Pigs: African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Swine Influenza
  • Poultry: Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Marek's Disease, Salmonellosis
  • Horses: Equine Influenza, Strangles, Equine Herpesvirus, African Horse Sickness, Equine Infectious Anaemia
  • Wildlife: Chronic Wasting Disease, Rabies, West Nile Virus, White-Nose Syndrome (bats), Chytridiomycosis (amphibians)
  • Aquatic Species: Koi Herpesvirus, Infectious Salmon Anaemia, White Spot Syndrome
  • Zoo/Exotic Animals: Multi-species diseases relevant to conservation and captive wildlife

What Each Disease Profile Contains

Every disease profile provides comprehensive information structured for practical use:

Basic Information

  • Disease Name: Common name and alternative names
  • Animal Type: Which species the disease affects (filterable)
  • Short Description: One-sentence summary for quick reference
  • Overview: Comprehensive explanation of what the disease is
  • Detailed Description: In-depth coverage of disease mechanisms, epidemiology, and significance

Clinical Presentation

  • Symptoms: Observable signs in affected animals:
    • Physical symptoms (discharge, lesions, fever, lameness)
    • Behavioural changes (lethargy, reduced appetite, unusual aggression)
    • Production impacts (reduced milk yield, poor growth, reproductive failure)
    • Mortality patterns (sudden death, chronic wasting)

Epidemiological Parameters

  • Transmission Rate (0.0-1.0 scale): How easily disease spreads:

    • 0.1-0.3: Low transmission (requires direct contact, bodily fluids, contaminated equipment)
    • 0.4-0.6: Moderate transmission (direct contact, shared water/feed, fomites)
    • 0.7-0.8: High transmission (airborne over short distances, indirect contact)
    • 0.9-1.0: Very high transmission (highly contagious, airborne spread, fomite transmission)

  • Incubation Period (1-60 days): Time from exposure to contagiousness:

    • Short incubation (1-3 days): Rapidly spreading diseases requiring immediate response
    • Medium incubation (4-14 days): Most common diseases, standard quarantine protocols
    • Long incubation (15-60 days): Chronic diseases, extended monitoring required

  • Contagious Period (1-60 days): Duration animal can spread disease:

    • Brief contagious period (1-7 days): Short isolation sufficient
    • Standard contagious period (7-21 days): Typical quarantine duration
    • Extended contagious period (21-60 days): Prolonged isolation, careful management

Zoonotic Information

  • Is Zoonotic?: Can the disease affect humans? (Yes/No)
  • Zoonotic Multiplier (1.0-2.0): Risk adjustment for human-transmissible diseases:
    • 1.0-1.2: Standard zoonotic concern, normal precautions
    • 1.3-1.5: Elevated zoonotic risk, enhanced protective measures
    • 1.6-2.0: High zoonotic risk, maximum precautions, public health notification
  • Human Impact: How the disease affects people:
    • Symptoms in humans
    • Severity and treatment
    • Vulnerable populations (pregnant women, immunocompromised, elderly, children)
    • Prevention measures for people working with infected animals

Emergency Response

  • Response Recommendations: What to do when disease is suspected or confirmed:

    • Immediate isolation requirements
    • Biosecurity protocols to implement
    • Veterinary consultation guidance
    • Treatment options (if available)
    • Vaccination considerations
    • Depopulation criteria (for severe diseases)

  • Report Disease: Regulatory requirements:

    • Notifiable disease status (must report to authorities)
    • Timeframe for reporting (immediate, within 24 hours, within 7 days)
    • Which authorities to notify
    • Documentation required for reporting

Geographic and Outbreak Information

  • Endemic Countries: Where disease commonly occurs:

    • Countries where disease is established in animal populations
    • Regions with ongoing control programmes
    • Import/export risk considerations

  • Latest Outbreak: Most recent outbreak information:

    • Location and date of recent outbreaks
    • Scale of outbreaks (number of animals affected)
    • Control measures implemented
    • Current outbreak status (active, contained, resolved)

Supporting Resources

  • Resources: Documents, guidelines, fact sheets:

    • Government disease control guidelines
    • Biosecurity protocols specific to the disease
    • Diagnostic procedures
    • Treatment protocols
    • Case studies and outbreak investigations

  • Explainers: Educational articles linked to the disease:

    • How the disease works (pathophysiology in plain language)
    • Why certain biosecurity measures matter
    • Understanding diagnostic tests
    • Interpreting clinical signs

Example Disease Profile: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)

Disease Name: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)

Animal Type: Cattle (also affects pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals)

Short Description: Highly contagious viral disease causing fever and painful blisters in the mouth, on feet, and teats of affected animals.

Is Zoonotic: No (humans rarely affected, and when infected, symptoms are mild and self-limiting)

Epidemiological Parameters:

  • Transmission Rate: 0.9 (very high: one of the most contagious animal diseases)
  • Incubation Period: 14 days (time from exposure to when animal can spread disease)
  • Contagious Period: 7 days (period before symptoms appear when animal is shedding virus)
  • Zoonotic Multiplier: 1.0 (not a significant zoonotic concern)

Symptoms:

  • Sudden onset of fever (up to 41°C)
  • Painful blisters (vesicles) in and around the mouth
  • Excessive salivation and drooling
  • Blisters on feet, especially between toes and on the coronary band
  • Lameness (severe due to painful foot lesions)
  • Blisters on teats (in lactating animals)
  • Reduced milk production (up to 90% reduction)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Secondary bacterial infections of ruptured blisters

Overview: FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that causes severe economic losses. These losses come from production impacts, movement restrictions, trade bans, and often require mass depopulation in disease-free countries. While animal mortality is low (typically 2-5% in adults, higher in young animals), the disease causes extreme suffering. It destroys livestock industries through export bans and control costs.

Response Recommendations:

  • Immediate isolation: Prevent all animal movement on and off property
  • Emergency notification: Contact veterinary authorities immediately (notifiable disease)
  • Biosecurity lockdown: Implement strict biosecurity, disinfect vehicles, boots, equipment
  • Quarantine all contact animals: Isolate all animals that may have been exposed
  • Await veterinary assessment: Do not attempt to treat; await official response
  • Prepare for depopulation: In disease-free countries, affected herds are usually culled

Report Disease: Immediately notifiable to veterinary authorities in all jurisdictions. FMD is one of the most serious livestock diseases globally. It triggers emergency response protocols, trade bans, and stamping-out (culling) programmes.

Endemic Countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, parts of Africa, Middle East, South America. Disease-free zones include North America, Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe, parts of South America under FMD-free programmes.

Latest Outbreak: [Dynamically updated with current outbreak information from the Knowledge Hub]

Resources:

  • OIE FMD Portal guidelines
  • FAO FMD emergency response procedures
  • National FMD contingency plans
  • Biosecurity protocols for FMD control
  • Diagnostic procedures and sampling guides

Linked Explainers:

  • "Understanding Vesicular Diseases" - How blistering diseases work and how to distinguish FMD from similar conditions
  • "Why FMD is So Serious" - Economic and trade implications
  • "Emergency Disease Response: The First 24 Hours" - Step-by-step actions during disease emergencies

This comprehensive profile ensures that anyone researching FMD has complete, actionable information immediately available. This includes farmers noticing unusual symptoms, veterinarians confirming diagnosis, and regulatory officials coordinating response.

2. Authority Emergency Contacts

Centralised Emergency Response Information

When disease strikes, knowing who to call can mean the difference between rapid containment and widespread outbreak. The Knowledge Hub organises emergency contacts by jurisdiction. This ensures you reach the right authority immediately.

What Is Included

National Emergency Hotlines:

  • 24/7 emergency disease reporting numbers
  • National veterinary services contact information
  • Agriculture department emergency lines
  • Zoonotic disease public health contacts

Subnational Authorities:

  • State/provincial veterinary services
  • Regional disease control centres
  • Local agricultural extension offices
  • County/district animal health offices

Specialised Contacts:

  • Wildlife disease reporting (for wildlife-specific diseases)
  • Aquatic animal health authorities (for fish and aquaculture diseases)
  • Exotic animal disease specialists (for zoo and conservation contexts)
  • Border control and import/export certification authorities

Disease-Specific Contacts:

  • FMD emergency hotlines (in FMD-free countries)
  • Avian influenza rapid response teams
  • Rabies control centres
  • Zoonotic disease notification contacts

Example: Authority Contacts for Kenya

National Level:

  • Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) - Emergency Disease Reporting

    • Hotline: +254-20-XXXXXX (24/7)
    • Email: emergency@dvs.go.ke
    • Diseases: All notifiable diseases, FMD, Rift Valley Fever, Rinderpest

  • Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) - Wildlife Disease Reporting

    • Hotline: +254-800-WILDLIFE
    • Email: wildlife.health@kws.go.ke
    • Diseases: Wildlife diseases, zoonotic spillover, conservation health emergencies

  • Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) - Public Health Coordination

    • Hotline: +254-20-XXXXXX
    • Email: zoonoses@health.go.ke
    • Diseases: Rabies, Brucellosis, Anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, Avian Influenza

Subnational Level (Example: Nairobi County):

  • Nairobi County Veterinary Services

    • Office: +254-20-XXXXXX
    • Mobile: +254-7XX-XXXXXX
    • Coverage: Nairobi metropolitan area
    • Services: Routine inspections, disease investigation, movement permits

  • Rift Valley Veterinary Investigation Laboratory

    • Phone: +254-XX-XXXXXX
    • Services: Diagnostic testing, outbreak investigation support
    • Specimen submission: Available 8 AM - 5 PM weekdays

How This Helps

Scenario 1 - Suspected FMD in Cattle (Kenya): You observe unusual blistering and lameness in several cattle. You access the FMD disease profile, confirm symptoms match, and immediately see:

Emergency Contact: Directorate of Veterinary Services - FMD Emergency Hotline: +254-20-XXXXXX (24/7)

You call, report suspected FMD, receive guidance on immediate biosecurity measures, and await emergency veterinary assessment. What could have been 30 minutes searching for the right contact happens in seconds.

Scenario 2 - Rabies Exposure in Wildlife (Australia): A rescued bat tests positive for rabies. You need to notify both wildlife and public health authorities:

Emergency Contacts (automatically shown based on jurisdiction):

  • Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline: 1800-675-888
  • State Wildlife Health Officer (dynamically populated based on your state)
  • Department of Health - Communicable Disease Control: 1800-XXX-XXX

Both authorities notified promptly, public health response coordinated, appropriate precautions implemented for anyone who handled the bat.

3. Outbreak Tracking

Current Disease Intelligence

The Knowledge Hub tracks ongoing disease outbreaks globally, helping you assess risks and implement preventive measures.

What Is Tracked:

  • Disease Name: Which disease is circulating
  • Location: Country, region, specific areas affected
  • Date: When outbreak was reported
  • Scale: Number of animals affected, farms impacted
  • Zoonotic Potential: Human health risk associated with the outbreak
  • Control Measures: Movement restrictions, vaccination campaigns, depopulation zones
  • Outbreak Status: Active, Contained, Resolved

How You Use This:

Example - Avian Influenza Outbreak Alert:

Outbreak: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1
Location: Eastern Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary)
Date: Reported March 2025
Scale: 15 commercial poultry farms affected, 200,000 birds depopulated
Zoonotic Potential: Yes - rare human cases reported among farm workers
Control Measures: 10km protection zones, 3km surveillance zones, movement restrictions
Status: Active - ongoing surveillance and control

Decision Impact:

  • Poultry farmers in neighboring countries increase biosecurity
  • Wildlife managers monitoring wild waterfowl for HPAI
  • Zoos with avian collections implement preventive protocols
  • Import restrictions anticipated, affecting international trade

Outbreak tracking transforms reactive response (waiting for disease to arrive) into proactive prevention (preparing before disease spreads).

4. Educational Resources

Explainers: Concept Education

Explainers provide plain-language education on disease concepts, organised by category:

Disease Mechanisms: How diseases work:

  • "Understanding Viral vs. Bacterial Diseases"
  • "How Diseases Spread Between Animals"
  • "What Happens During an Infection?"

Epidemiology Concepts: Disease patterns and spread:

  • "Incubation Period Explained"
  • "Transmission Rates: What the Numbers Mean"
  • "Understanding Quarantine Duration"
  • "Contact Tracing for Disease Control"

Biosecurity Principles: Prevention strategies:

  • "The Five Levels of Biosecurity"
  • "Why Visitor Management Matters"
  • "Equipment Disinfection Best Practices"
  • "Quarantine: When, Where, and How Long?"

Zoonotic Disease Risks: Human health considerations:

  • "What 'Zoonotic' Really Means"
  • "Protecting Yourself When Working with Sick Animals"
  • "When to Notify Public Health Authorities"

Regulatory Frameworks: Compliance and reporting:

  • "Notifiable Diseases: Your Legal Obligations"
  • "Understanding Movement Restrictions"
  • "Export Health Certification Explained"

Glossary: Terminology Reference

Over 1,000 animal health and disease management terms defined:

Examples:

  • Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system that recognises and neutralises pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Antibody levels can indicate current infection or past exposure/vaccination.

  • Endemic: A disease that is constantly present in a particular region or population at relatively stable levels. For example, tuberculosis is endemic in wildlife populations in certain areas.

  • Fomite: An inanimate object (e.g., clothing, equipment, vehicles) that can carry and transmit infectious organisms from one animal to another.

  • Incubation Period: The time between exposure to a disease and when the animal becomes contagious (can spread the disease to others). Not the same as the time until symptoms appear.

  • Notifiable Disease: A disease that must be reported to veterinary or public health authorities by law. Examples include foot-and-mouth disease, rabies, and avian influenza.

  • Serotype: A distinct variation within a species of virus or bacteria, distinguished by the antibodies it triggers. For example, Foot-and-Mouth Disease has seven serotypes (O, A, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia 1).

  • Zoonosis (plural: Zoonoses): A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Examples include rabies, brucellosis, anthrax, and certain strains of influenza.

How to Use the Glossary:

  • Search for specific terms when reading disease profiles
  • Browse alphabetically to build disease management vocabulary
  • Reference when interpreting veterinary reports
  • Understand regulatory documents and compliance requirements

5. Resources: Supporting Documentation

The Knowledge Hub links to authoritative external resources:

Government Guidelines:

  • OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) disease fact sheets
  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) emergency response manuals
  • National veterinary service guidelines
  • Regional disease control protocols

Biosecurity Protocols:

  • Farm biosecurity checklists
  • Visitor management templates
  • Equipment disinfection procedures
  • Quarantine facility specifications

Diagnostic References:

  • Sample collection procedures
  • Laboratory submission guidelines
  • Diagnostic test interpretation
  • Differential diagnosis flowcharts

Regulatory Documents:

  • Movement permit requirements
  • Export health certification procedures
  • Notifiable disease reporting forms
  • Import risk assessments

These resources provide deeper technical detail for users who need comprehensive guidance beyond the disease profile summaries.

How Information Is Organised for Easy Access

Searchable and Filterable

Search by:

  • Disease name
  • Animal type
  • Symptoms
  • Geographic region

Filter by:

  • Animal species (cattle, sheep, poultry, wildlife, etc.)
  • Zoonotic status (human health risk)
  • Transmission level (low, moderate, high, very high)
  • Geographic relevance (endemic in your region)
  • Outbreak status (currently circulating)

Contextually Linked

Information connects throughout Kora:

  • Disease profiles link to relevant explainers
  • Explainers reference glossary terms
  • Resources connect to specific diseases
  • Outbreak alerts link to affected disease profiles
  • Authority contacts associate with relevant diseases

Always Available, Never Locked

Unlike paywalled veterinary databases or subscription-based disease references, the Knowledge Hub is:

  • Free to access - No additional costs beyond Kora itself
  • Always available - 24/7 access, no connectivity required for cached data
  • Universally accessible - All user types, all permission levels
  • Continuously updated - New diseases, updated outbreak information, revised contacts
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