title: Disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies in the Middle East.
abstract: The animal health situation in the Middle East is particularly unfavourable, as this area is exposed to many serious animal diseases. The Middle East is ill-prepared to institute disease prevention and control measures, due to deficiencies at both national and regional levels. Early detection, diagnosis and reporting of diseases must become a priority within these countries and effective communication should be maintained among them. Regional animal health programmes and the support of international institutions are essential to improve preparedness for natural or human-caused emergency situations, which can seriously affect animal health. Such emergencies can also have significant impacts on related public health issues.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimshony
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Economides
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004630:Emergencies / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D011634:Public Health; D015047:Zoonoses