Project: Integrating Animal Data into an Environmental Health Network

Health Infostructure Support Program

Background

In a recent study, the Centre for Coastal Health (CCH) investigated the possibility of using observations of animal health and ecology as an early warning system for emerging public health risks arising from a change in human ecosystems and the environment. There is a long and well documented history of how such observations have pre-dated or uncovered human health risks.

Project Description

The primary objective of this project will be to develop a web-based electronic communications system that would support the communications, information extraction and information synthesis needs of the Animal Emerging Risk Network (AERN). Such a system would have four main components: 1. A mechanism for easy request for information, announcements of important sentinel events (e.g. disease outbreaks), or identification of important changes in animal populations. 2. A system for scanning and summarizing electronic mail lists. 3. A method for extracting, summarizing and posting interpreted data from network members or other sources. 4. A means by which a scientific advisory group for the AERN can regularly review the information on the system, analyse it from a public health perspective and disseminate the analysis.

Project Funding under HISP: $99,300.00

Project Management: Malaspina University-College

For further information contact:

Mr. Craig Stephen
Director, Centre for Coastal Health
Malaspina University-College
900 5th Street
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9R 5S5
Tel: (250) 741-2642
Fax: (250) 755-8749
cch@mala.bc.ca