Which statement about the OIE is FALSE?

• A. It publishes the primary reference manuals/codes governing international trade in animals and animal products
• B. More than half of all countries in the world are members of the OIE
• C. It maintains a list of the most important human diseases and distributes information about the presence or absence of these human diseases in each country
• D. It is the acronym for the World Organization for Animal Health

Answer: (C)

The question tests what the OIE actually does: its scope and the kind of information it maintains. The OIE focuses on animal health and the standards that govern international trade in animals and animal products. It publishes the main reference manuals and codes used for trade, such as the codes for terrestrial and aquatic animals and the accompanying diagnostic manuals. It also gathers and shares information about animal diseases and health status across countries through its information systems, which are about animal health, not human diseases. The organization has broad international membership, with more than half of the world’s countries involved, and its English name is World Organisation for Animal Health, reflecting its focus. The false statement claims that it maintains a list of the most important human diseases for each country; that is not within its remit—that role belongs to the WHO, which tracks human health issues.