Can epidemiology and economics make a meaningful contribution to national animal-disease control?

The general role of veterinary epidemiology and economics to national anima l-disease control throughout the world is considered for the four main grou pings of animal diseases: zoonotic, foodborne, endemic and epidemic disease s. This is done by considering how veterinary epidemiology and economics ha s contributed to priority setting (which diseases come first?), decision-ma king (for a given disease, which strategy is bear?), and disease control im plementation (how can optimal delivery and adoption of selected interventio ns best be achieved?). Within each of these categories, progress made and f uture opportunities are discussed. In addition, a review is made of how vet erinary 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 t he adoption and impact of the products of our unique partnership, particula rly in countries of the developing world. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.