Technical and economic evaluation method for use in improving infectious animal disease surveillance networks.

With hope of improving the increasing number of epidemiological surveillance networks for animal diseases set up in recent years, a qualitative and quantitative technical and economic evaluation tool was developed and then applied to three epidemiological surveillance networks: RENESA (a French surveillance network for salmonella and mycoplasma contamination in poultry production units subject to official sanitary controls), the French Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemiovigilance Network and REPIMAT (the epidemiological surveillance network in Chad for major cattle diseases). We identified critical points in epidemiological surveillance networks using a modified version of the hazard analysis: critical control point (HACCP) method. An evaluation grid was then developed and validated by experts who were consulted in accordance with the Delphi method. A questionnaire to collect the information required for the evaluation and a scoring guide were then designed. Our evaluation procedure also included a calculation of the annual operating costs for two of the three networks studied. On the basis of the detailed results of the technical and economic evaluation, we formulated specific suggestions for improving the networks. The cost of implementing these proposals was calculated. We then simulated the effects of implementing each of the proposed improvements and a new global evaluation score was determined for each network. The 'cost per point' of each improvement was then calculated and discussed. This tool for the technical and economic evaluation of epidemiological surveillance networks for animal diseases is proposed so that it may be tested on a far wider scale and eventually be used in improving the functioning of such networks and for risk analysis in international trade.