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WOAH Disease Data Collection
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Timely disease notification to World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is essential for global health security, yet reporting challenges persist. Funded by Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia DAFF) under WOAH’s 7th Strategic Plan (WOAH 7SP), this initiative aims to enhance early disease detection in the Asia-Pacific region by identifying and breaking down barriers to both terrestrial and aquatic disease reporting. By delivering targeted solutions to improve World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) data collection, information sharing, and regional communication, we enable WOAH Members and partners to respond rapidly and effectively to emerging health threats.
The Active Search Team for Asia and the Pacific region (AST Asia-Pacific) was established to proactively detect early signs of regional disease threats. Utilising the WHO’s Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, the AST Asia-Pacific continuously analyses online information as part of its active search activity (‘rumours tracking’ activity). When potential outbreaks are identified, the team reaches out to relevant countries and territories in the region to verify crucial news signals.
Operating under the guidance of WOAH headquarters, AST Asia-Pacific works closely with the World Animal Health Information Department (WAHID) and epidemiologists from the Data Integration Department (DID). All non-official intelligence gathered by AST Asia-Pacific is systematically cross-referenced with official data in the WAHIS. While EIOS is the primary tool for the regional team (at present), WOAH’s global epidemic intelligence network is multifaceted, integrating platforms such as the Global Early Warning and Response System (GLEWS) for zoonotic diseases.
Real-time surveillance matters because of what can happen when information is not shared in a timely and accurate way. Slow information has consequences well beyond the animals affected.
In brief, the process has three stages: collect, analyse and communicate. The detailed workflow follows below.
To transform open-source data into validated, actionable epidemiological intelligence, the AST Asia-Pacific applies a systematic workflow:
Since its inception, this initiative has driven major advancements in WOAH’s early warning capabilities, strengthening disease surveillance and fostering a culture of transparency across Asia and the Pacific.
Figures calculated up to June 2026.
Twice a week, the team screens news articles through EIOS and tracks how many are relevant, including those about commonly detected WOAH-listed diseases.
HPAI: highly pathogenic avian influenza. FMD: foot-and-mouth disease. ASF: African swine fever. LSD: lumpy skin disease. In January 2025, the month with the most relevant articles, foot-and-mouth disease articles also peaked at 57.
How the epidemic intelligence initiative in WOAH Asia-Pacific has developed, from the first gap analysis to Phase 2.
Funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under the WOAH 7th Strategic Plan.
Building upon the strong foundation established in the first year, the project is ready for continued growth and impact. Key future priorities include:
To support the project’s goals and contribute to a more secure animal health environment in the Asia-Pacific region, we encourage:
Since September 2025, AST Asia-Pacific has published a quarterly report on the animal disease situation in the Asia-Pacific region. The latest report covers the second quarter of 2026 (April to June). These draw on a combination of official data from WAHIS and non-official information collected through WOAH’s epidemic intelligence initiative.
Want to know what is happening with animal diseases across Asia-Pacific? Open a quarterly report for a clear, regular snapshot of the regional situation.
Each report opens in a new tab.
This consultancy report—‘Identifying barriers to notification of terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases in Asia-Pacific’—investigates the primary obstacles to immediate disease reporting across the region and proposes targeted strategies to resolve them. By providing fresh insights into the drivers of successful notification, the study strongly advocates for a strengths-based approach to implementing its recommendations, ultimately aiming to cultivate a positive, shared culture of transparency.
This summary report presents a gap analysis of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) epidemic intelligence activities across the Asia-Pacific region. The primary objective is to identify gaps in disease detection capacity (from official and non-official sources) and reporting performances across the region’s 43 countries and territories, to establish priority actions to enhance regional animal health threat detection capacity. The summary presented here reflects the situation in the region as of July 2024. It was developed as an initial step in designing the early threat warning support project. Key indicators will be updated in future reports.
For more information about the project or to get involved, please contact:
