WAHIS and the role of the OIE's reference laboratories and collaborating centres

In May 2004, OIE Member Countries adopted a resolution on the implementation of a new notification procedure. This new notification procedure led to the creation of a new World Animal Health Information System, which came into force in January 2005. In April 2006, the OIE launched a secure web application called the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), an online notification system for Member Countries. For countries with fully functional internet connections, this new system has replaced the use of paper report forms. It constitutes a major achievement in the worldwide use of information technology and modem communication techniques and their applications, enabling Member Countries to notify the OIE of disease and epidemiological information in accordance with the requirements laid down in Chapter 1.1.2. of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Chapter 1.2.1. of the Aquatic Animal Health Code. As well as being an online notification system, WAHIS is also a two-way communication system. It goes without saying that a good flow of information is essential if the system is to function optimally. WAHIS thus serves to disseminate information to OIE Member Countries in addition to such information being publicly disseminated via distribution lists and the World animal Health Information Database (WAHID) interface. It can also be used to ask a country to provide explanations or clarifications on the data it has submitted.