Zoonoses in Bangladesh: The Role of Veterinarian in Public Health

Abstract

Zoonoses are diseases and infections that are naturally transmissible between vertebrate animals and man. Zoonoses may be categorized as emerging, reemerging and neglected zoonotic diseases which are widely prevalent and pose a great threat throughout the world including Bangladesh. Veterinary public health is a component of public health activities devoted to the application of professional veterinary skills, knowledge, and resources for the protection and improvement of public health. Many veterinarians are less aware of the importance of zoonoses than is desirable and medical clinicians who encounter zoonoses in human patients may either fail to recognize them or concentrate on treating the individual patient rather than disease control. This situation may be worsened where there is insufficient communication between veterinarians, the various health care professionals and public health organizations. However, the collaborative efforts between physicians and veterinarians in communication, sharing public health knowledge and research settings could do much to improve human and animal health. Much can be done by education, and in particular by increasing the awareness of different health professionals, and facilitating communication and collaboration between veterinary, public health and agricultural personnel. This will help us to approach and control zoonotic diseases in as ef?cient and effective a way as possible.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v12i2.21257 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2014). 12 (2): 93-98