The value of information: Current challenges in surveillance implementation

Area of Science:

• Veterinary epidemiology
• Animal health economics
• Public health policy

Background:

• Animal health surveillance is critical for decision support but faces technical, economic, and political challenges, especially for emerging hazards.
• Surveillance systems inform intervention decisions, aiming to reduce disease impact and uncertainty, yet quantifying benefits remains difficult.
• The economic appraisal of surveillance must consider both surveillance and intervention performance, alongside avoided losses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted constraints impacting animal health surveillance systems.
• To highlight the necessity of economic appraisals for evaluating surveillance and intervention strategies.
• To emphasize the need for systematic evaluation approaches and improved guidance for surveillance effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Review of technical, economic, and political factors influencing surveillance systems.
• Discussion of economic appraisal methodologies for surveillance and intervention.
• Exploration of evaluation approaches for assessing surveillance worth, including effectiveness and efficiency.

Main Results:

• Surveillance effectiveness is constrained by technical limitations, economic factors, and political influences.
• Economic appraisals should be hazard-specific, integrating surveillance and intervention performance with loss avoidance.
• Systematic evaluation is needed to guide investment decisions and improve surveillance practices.

Conclusions:

• Animal health surveillance requires a case-by-case economic appraisal, integrating technical, economic, and political considerations.
• Improved evaluation methods and guidance are essential for optimizing surveillance systems and decision-making.
• Contingency planning and decision support systems are vital for effective surveillance, particularly during outbreaks.