Veterinary epidemiology in Latin America.

Abstract

Veterinary epidemiology began in different Latin American countries during the 1960s and the 1970s in different universities and state-run institutes of animal health. The discipline evolved as a continuation of the activities veterinarians carried out in the areas of public health, infectious diseases, biostatistics, and the planning and administration of animal health programs. From the outset, the concepts were oriented towards covering the whole spectrum of factors involved in animal health, including political and social factors. Subsequently, the aforementioned factors were complemented with scientific and methodological support, backed by post graduate qualifications offered by the North America and European universities, together with financial support from intergovernmental organizations. One important contribution for the Latin American veterinary epidemiology and economics community was the ISVEE 10 which took place in Chile in 2003, which served to link many professionals and scientists with the world of people working in those themes. Whilst the study programs of veterinarians of the Latin American universities have different forms and depths when delivering competencies in epidemiology, most have similar conceptual and methodological elements. Ideally, the profile of an epidemiology teacher should include the qualities of dreamer and explorer of new theme worlds, combined with simplicity and openness to the world. A teacher's knowledge should transcend worlds and be enriched by what takes place outside the bounds of their geographic or university frontiers.