Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Can epidemiology and economics make a meaningful contribution to national animal-disease control?
- Journal:
- Preventive veterinary medicine
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Perry, B et al.
- Affiliation:
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Plain-English summary
This research looks at how veterinary epidemiology (the study of animal diseases and their spread) and economics can help control animal diseases on a national level. It discusses four main types of animal diseases: those that can be passed to humans, those that come from food, and both common and outbreak diseases. The study emphasizes the importance of these fields in deciding which diseases to prioritize, choosing the best strategies for dealing with them, and effectively implementing control measures. The authors believe that there is still a lot of work to be done, especially in developing countries, to strengthen the collaboration between veterinarians and agricultural economists to improve animal health policies and strategies. Overall, they conclude that this partnership is crucial for better animal health worldwide.
Abstract
The general role of veterinary epidemiology and economics to national animal-disease control throughout the world is considered for the four main groupings of animal diseases: zoonotic, food-borne, endemic and epidemic diseases. This is done by considering how veterinary epidemiology and economics has contributed to priority setting (which diseases come first?), decision-making (for a given disease, which strategy is best?), and disease control implementation (how can optimal delivery and adoption of selected interventions best be achieved?). Within each of these categories, progress made and future opportunities are discussed. In addition, a review is made of how veterinary epidemiology and economics has been institutionalised. We conclude that veterinary epidemiology and economics holds a unique role in the development of national policies and strategies for improved animal health world-wide. However, we consider that we must capitalise more on the unique comparative advantage of the partnership between veterinarians and agricultural economists. We believe that much remains to be done to improve the "institutionalisation" of veterinary epidemiology and economics, and the adoption and impact of the products of our unique partnership, particularly in countries of the developing world.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11259818/