IMPORTATION RISK OF NOTIFIABLE ANIMAL DISEASES THROUGH CROSSBORDER ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCT TRADING: A BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

To understand the risk of introduction of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) from the neighboring countries to Bangladesh a qualitative risk analysis has been performed. The risk analysis was based on the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) risk assessment framework. Cross-border animal trade survey was conducted, and secondary data for disease and trade were used for necessary information. The risk was assessed by the following factors: TADs infections in the border areas, the permeability of the livestock in the illegal channel, the volume of trade, contact between imported livestock and local animals, quarantine of the imported animals, veterinary inspection and slaughter and disposals of the animals. Scenario pathways – namely, entry assessment, exposure assessment and consequence assessment, presented as a conceptual framework to qualitatively assess the risk of TADs. The overall risk of TADs was assessed as the product of the chance of entry, exposure, and consequence of TADs imported to Bangladesh through cross-border trading of livestock, and risk was assessed as ‘High” for Bangladesh. The method and results provided here can serve as a baseline for further sophisticated qualitative and quantitative risk analysis for specific pathogens.