Infectious Diseases Group, Animal Health Service, Animal Production & Health Division, Agricultural Department, Food & Agriculture Organization, United Nations
Data Center Description
The Infectious Diseases Group deals mainly with the design and analysis of control strategies for infectious diseases of farm animals. The main objective is to reduce adverse impact of infectious diseases on livestock with a view to optimising the contribution of livestock to human welfare and rural development. The Infectious Diseases Group works to:
-assist member countries to improve prevention and progressive control of infectious diseases through the application of effective disease emergency preparedness, epidemiological analysis, disease surveillance, appropriate diagnostic technology and the use of quality assured vaccines.
-develop specialised information systems on infectious diseases affecting animal health thereby providing information to support decision making for animal health policy and planning.
-provide special focus on short cycle livestock species i.e. small ruminants, swine and poultry.
The Infectious Diseases Group pays particular attention to the Special Programme, EMPRES, which focuses on the effective containment and control of the most serious epidemic livestock diseases / Transboundary Animal Diseases (TAD) and evolving and emerging diseases through regional and global co-operation. The Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Network (RADISCON), is a joint FAO/ IFAD project, managed by the Infectious Diseases Group which endeavours to assist each of the 29 participating countries to establish its National Animal Diseases Surveillance System and enhance communication among countries.