Exotic Disease Response Centre
The Exotic Disease Response Centre is responsible for managing preparedness for a response to an exotic animal disease incursion. In the event of a suspected incursion, in accordance with the directions of the Chief Veterinary Officer, staff of the Exotic Disease Response Centre manage the initial investigation and containment measures and, if required, manage eradication of the disease.
The Exotic Disease Response Centre (EDRC) has a number of national functions:
Maintenance phase
- The EDRC is kept ready to function in the case of any exotic disease investigation or response.
- It maintains epidemiological support software (eg. EpiMAN) so it is readily available when required.
Initial investigation phase
- Notification point for suspected cases of exotic disease. Staff at the EDRC technically assess the information given over the free phone, and if necessary dispatch an initial investigation veterinarian to the property for further clarification.
- Expert field diagnostic service to further investigate the case if the initial investigating veterinarian cannot rule out the suspected exotic disease.
Response phase
- If the team of experts cannot rule out the suspected exotic disease, the EDRC will become fully operational to direct the actions of the field operations response team (which are from agencies contracted by MAF to carry out the field response), and manage the epidemiological support software.
MAF's Director Animal Biosecurity has ultimate power for making decisions to initiate the response and during the response, but generally makes these in collaboration with the NZAHRL general manager and EDRC staff.
Page last updated: 30 April 2008