Zoonoses control and veterinary public health.

Because animals are essential in the life cycles of zoonoses, veterinary public health is necessary in the control of such diseases. A review of different operational phases of zoonoses control is presented, including surveillance, control in animals, control of vectors and vehicles, prevention in man and strategy selection. A practical scheme for zoonoses control is proposed along with its different constituents: legislation and administration, knowledge of the territory, knowledge of zoonoses, identification of diagnostic facilities, programme formulation, implementation and evaluation. The motivations for zoonoses control programmes and for their commencement and/or extension are discussed, with reference to their role as indicators of the social and economic status of a country.