Changes

=What is risk?=

=What is risk?=

In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event. Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>

In the context of risk assessment, the concept of '''risk''' can be viewed as the product of the '''likelihood''' of an event occurring and the '''consequences''' of that event (which may be biological, economic or environmental consequences). Additionally, the '''perception''' of the event is an important consideration, which can have a large impact upon risk. One example of a hazard which is generally ''perceived'' to be risky is radiation from nuclear power plants, due to a number of characteristics such as invisibility, association with long-term human health risks (including cancers), not viewed as being necessary, and being created from a process which many people do not understand. Therefore, when deciding where to site a nuclear power plant, consideration of the risk should include the likelihood of radiation release (which will generally be very low/negligible), the consequences of this (which are very high) '''and''' the perception of the risk by people who would live near to the power station.<br>

==Hazard identification==

==Hazard identification==

Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. For example, if a risk assessment was conducted in order to investigate the risk of  Examples of hazards are 'the movement of at least one animal infected with pathogen x into a country over the course of one year', 'a level of contamination of meat of more than CFUs of Salmonella per cm2'

Before a risk assessment can be conducted, the hazard(s) of interest must be identified. It is vital that all hazards of interest are identified, as if they are not identified in this stage, they will not be accounted for in the final risk assessment. In the context of veterinary risk assessment, hazards are usually pathogenic agents such as bacteria or viruses. The selection of which pathogens are of importance will depend on the '''risk question''' to be asked, which may specify only one pathogen or may include all pathogens present in the exporting country (in which case, a comprehensive investigation of which pathogens are present in the exporting country, and whether these are a hazard for the importing country, will need to be conducted). All relevant information about the hazard(s), including epidemiology, control measures, and general status in the exporting and importing countries) should then be compiled in preparation for the risk assessment stage. In the case of multiple hazards being considered, each should be investigated separately.

==Risk assessment==

==Risk assessment==

===Release assessment===

===Release assessment===

===Exposure assessment===

===Exposure assessment===

===Consequence assessment

===Consequence assessment===

===Risk estimation===

===Risk estimation===

[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts|A]]

[[Category:Veterinary Epidemiology - Further Concepts|A]]