Chapter 1.1.

Notification of diseases and
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, every OIE Member of the organisation shall recognise the right of the Central Bureau 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. Members shall make available to other Members, through the OIE, whatever information is necessary to minimise the spread of important animal diseases and to assist in achieving better worldwide control of these diseases.

2. To achieve this, countries shall comply with the notification requirements specified in Article 1.1.3.

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

4. Recognising that scientific knowledge concerning the relationship between disease agents and diseases is constantly developing and that the presence of an infectious agent does not necessarily imply the presence of a disease, countries shall ensure through their reports that they comply with the spirit and intention of point 1 above.

5. In addition to notifying new findings in accordance with Article 1.1.3., countries shall also provide information on the measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases; including quarantine measures and restrictions on the movement of animals, animal products and biological products and other miscellaneous objects which could by their nature be responsible for transmission of disease. 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 send to the Central Bureau:

1. notification from the Delegate of the country by telegram, fax or e-mail, within 24 hours, of any of the following events:

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

   2. re-occurrence of a listed disease and/or infection in a country, a zone or a compartment following a report declared the outbreak ended;

   3. first occurrence of a new strain of a pathogen of an OIE listed disease in a country, a zone or a compartment;

   4. a sudden and unexpected increase in the distribution, incidence, morbidity or mortality of a listed disease prevalent within a country, a zone or a compartment;

   5. an emerging disease with significant morbidity or mortality, or zoonotic potential;

   6. evidence of change in the epidemiology of a listed disease (including host range, pathogenicity, strain) in particular if there is a zoonotic impact;

2. weekly reports by telegram, fax or e-mail subsequent to a notification under point 1 above, to provide further information on the evolution of an incident which justified urgent notification; these reports should continue until the situation has been resolved through either the disease being eradicated or it becoming endemic so that six-monthly reporting under point 3 will satisfy the obligation of the country to the OIE; in any case, a final report on the incident should be submitted;

3. a six-monthly report on the absence or presence, and evolution of diseases listed by the OIE and information of epidemiological significance to other countries;

4. an annual report concerning any other information of significance to other countries.

Article 1.1.4.

1. The Veterinary Authority of a territory in which an infected zone was located shall inform the Central Bureau when this zone is free from the disease.

2. An infected zone for a particular disease shall be considered as such until a period exceeding the infective period specified in the Terrestrial Code has elapsed after the last reported case, and when full prophylactic and appropriate animal health measures have been applied to prevent possible reappearance or spread of the disease. These measures will be found in detail in the various chapters of Volume 2 of the Terrestrial Code.

3. A country may be considered to regain freedom from a specific disease when all conditions given in the relevant chapters of the Terrestrial Code have been fulfilled.

4. The Veterinary Authority of a country which sets up one or several free zones shall inform the OIE 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 country.

Article 1.1.5.

1. The Central Bureau shall send by telegram, fax, e-mail or Disease Information to the Veterinary Authorities concerned, all notifications received as provided in Articles 1.1.2. to 1.1.4.

2. The Central Bureau shall dispatch to the Delegates information on new outbreaks of listed diseases.

3. The Central Bureau, on the basis of information received and of any official communication, shall prepare an annual report concerning the application of the Terrestrial Code and its effects on international trade.

Article 1.1.6.

All telegrams or faxes sent by Veterinary Authorities in pursuance of Articles 1.1.3. and 1.1.5. shall receive priority in accordance with the circumstances. Communications by telephone, telegram or fax, sent in the case of exceptional urgency when there is danger of spread of a notifiable epizootic disease, shall be given the highest priority accorded to these communications by the International Arrangements of Telecommunications.