Auflistung nach Autor:in "Armbruster, Walter J."
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- KonferenzbeitragAnimal Diseases and Human Health: Using Information Networks to Guide International Policy(Environmental Informatics and Systems Research, 2007) Armbruster, Walter J.Zoonotic diseases transmissible from animals to humans are of increasing concern in today’s global economy. For example, avian influenza (AI) is an omnipresent human flu pandemic threat calling for surveillance and bio-security as first lines of defense. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which affects beef and dairy animals did threaten a global human Crutzfeld-Jacob disease epidemic which is now seen as largely past. But since there are only postmortem tests for BSE, effective and continued risk communication is critical to containing the potential of a future global epidemic.
- KonferenzbeitragAvian Influenza: Risks, Impacts and Policy Implications(EnviroInfo Dessau 2012, Part 1: Core Application Areas, 2012) Armbruster, Walter J.Avian influenza has been an ongoing concern as a zoonotic food animal disease transmissible to humans which emerged from relative isolation in Asia onto the world stage starting in 2003. The concern is that this disease will transform to become readily transmitted among humans, creating a worldwide pandemic with severe human health and economic impacts. To date, the virus has shown itself to be relatively inefficient in mutating into a human transmissible form. Nonetheless, the economic impacts of the threat of such occurrence have been significant, as they have been for other zoonotic diseases circulating internationally.
- KonferenzbeitragMad Cows and Sick Chickens: Using Information Networks to Protect Human Health(Informatics for Environmental Protection - Networking Environmental Information, 2005) Armbruster, Walter J.Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have suffered continuing outbreaks of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry. There is need for biosecurity of poultry to prevent infection and enhanced early warning systems to detect new cases are critical. This implies the need to implement surveillance systems and information sharing to reduce the risk of potential outbreaks and human transmission. In the case of “mad cow” disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the 2003 discovery of one contaminated cow in each of Canada and the U.S. resulted in their common border being closed. It also closed exports from both countries to Europe, particularly Japan and other Asian countries. The U.S. and Canada finally reached agreement to reopen their border “after a careful and thorough science-based risk assessment” to importation of meat and animals from regions recognized as posing minimal risk of introducing BSE into the U.S. But several subsequent cases, including the second confirmed U.S. case was announced June 24, 2005. Do these cases signal a flawed prevention system, weak surveillance and tracking, or a dubious policymaking process? This paper will explore the evidence of animal to human contamination risk; the economic impacts of control measures; the need for tracking and animal ID systems; and the challenges of using information systems to prevent contamination of humans by animal-borne diseases.
- KonferenzbeitragPartnerships for Risk Communications: Environmental, Agricultural and Food Issues(Environmental Communication in the Information Society - Proceedings of the 16th Conference, 2002) Armbruster, Walter J.International trade expansion brings economic benefits but increases concerns about invasion of non-native species of plants, insects and microbes. The spread of diseases such as BSE and FMD can affect animals and humans and the threat of bio-terrorism affecting the environment, agriculture and food supplies are significant concerns. The risk of major economic damage that occurs from outbreaks can be reduced through border inspections, prevention and mitigation strategies, education and international agreements. Communication partnerships can play an important role in improving understanding of everyone’s role and responsibility in preventing contamination of the environment, agriculture and food supply.
- KonferenzbeitragSharing Data to Manage Animal Diseases and Assure Food Safety(Sh@ring – EnviroInfo 2004, 2004) Fitzwater, Larry; Armbruster, Walter J.