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Emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks are inevitable and often unpredictable events. The environment surrounding an outbreak is unique in public health, and outbreaks are frequently marked by uncertainty, confusion and a sense of urgency. Good communication at this time, generally through the media, is essential, but examples unfortunately abound of communication failures that have delayed outbreak control, undermined public trust and compliance, and unnecessarily prolonged economic, social and political turmoil. With this paper we hope to disseminate the idea that communication expertise has become as essential to outbreak control as epidemiological training and laboratory analysis. The paper presents the best practices for communicating with the public and discusses future aspects of communicating through the mass media during an outbreak.

Awassi sheep sera from all the provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic were tested for RSV, P13, REO and Adeno viruses (IIF and AGID tests). RSV was the most prevalent infection with 63.6% of samples seropositive, followed by REO, P13 and Adenovirus with seroprevalences of 27.3%, 24% and 8.1% respectively. Animals were more frequently infected by RSV alone. Mixed infections were also identified but the occurrence was not high. The RSV and REO virus infections occurred more frequently when transhumant flocks travelled for long distances (P < 0.001). The prevalence of RSV, P13, REO and Adenovirus infections was higher in animals sheltered in poor conditions compared to those in good shelter or with no shelter (P < 0.001; P < 0.001; n.s.; P < 0.05, respectively). RSV and P13 infections were related to an adult mortality rate of 10 to 20% (P < 0.001); REO virus was also proportionally related to mortality from low to high rates (P < 0.05). Concerning mortality of lambs, only Adenovirus infection was related to losses (> 20%) (P < 0.001). REO virus was related to low milk yield (P < 0.05).

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