Today more than ever, outbreaks of some animal diseases, particularly those harmful to humans (zoonoses) can cause considerable economic and social upheaval and send a wave of panic at national, regional or global level. Recent crises have shown how a serious health event for the animal kingdom can have a global impact on the rural economy and consumers and constitute a threat to public health. An early warning associated with a rapid response is key to fight contagious animal diseases at source, through the integration of all relevant stakeholders in the prevention and disease control mechanisms.

Veterinarians play a key role in all countries as guarantors of animal health and public health. But the effectiveness of their action is strongly linked to and dependent on their relationship with farmers. Livestock farmers all around the world are the first sentinels of animal disease events and a rapid response in the fight against animal diseases cannot leave aside their crucial role. They are also the first to suffer from animal diseases through important losses in their livelihood. Experience has shown the importance of organisational and economic factors in enabling the world’s 600 million livestock farmers to fulfil their role in the chain of protection. Improvement of their animal health training through the support of veterinarians must be considered central to the risk anticipation and risk mutualisation strategies that the international community will increasingly have to initiate.

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