To proactively monitor livestock for the prevention of deadly and economically damaging diseases, the USDA began establishing the NAHLN in 2002. Approved laboratories across the nation contribute test results to the national system, allowing for the tracking of animal disease and providing critical laboratory data which alerts the national system to animal disease outbreaks and other adverse animal health situations, including bio-terrorism events. Laboratories regularly test for prion or "mad cow" diseases, exotic Newcastle Disease, and Avian Influenza among other diseases.
Orion Health's Rhapsody Integration Engine will be used to extract approved information from state animal health laboratories information systems, reformat the data into identified NAHLN standardized data and report information back to Veterinary Services.
"Rhapsody will help us overcome the challenges inherent in managing huge volumes of data in multiple formats and could mean a faster response if an outbreak occurs," said Paul Viskovich, Orion Health President North American Operations. "Rhapsody will help integrate data from independent labs, increasing the USDA's monitoring ability and enhancing US bio-security."
