Animals, public health and the example of cowpox

Public attitudes towards animals are often contradictory, in developed coun tries where the problem of food security has been solved to a large degree, public concern is concentrated on food safety and animal welfare, along wi th a debate on the social status of both domestic and wild animals. Zoonose s are often the focal point of these concerns. In developing countries (whi ch often have the greatest biodiversity), wildlife constitutes an uncontrol lable source of often unknown zoonoses. The authors attempt to analyse the link between animals and public health. Special attention is given to the example of cowpox, a disease which has be en recognised as a zoonosis for more than two centuries but the epidemiolog y of which has recently been rediscovered.