BVA highlights need for greater disease data innovation

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has highlighted the role of greater innovation in capturing disease data in improving the broader monitoring of animal health trends.

A recent survey by the organisation has indicated that nine in ten production animal vets now conduct their own postmortems following the closure of some laboratories in the APHA surveillance network, despite industry efforts to unlock the power of big data approaches.

In 2014, there was a 31 percent increase in production animal vets carrying out their own postmortems following laboratory closures, with most vets keeping this data within their own practices.

Less than five percent currently make an effort to input this information into a national system such as NADIS, AHT or APHA, while less than one percent provide any of the data to a benchmarking group.

The BVA believes more focus needs to be placed on how digital technology can help vets in the field record and capture data can be fed into national databases and to provide a big-picture view of health trends.

Sean Wensley, president of the BVA, said: "What we now need is clear communications and guidance on carcase collection and access to postmortem examination arrangements together with a determination to see this as an opportunity to innovate."