The role of modern epidemiological methods in animal disease control in Germany

The application of epidemiological methods has increased over the last few years and has gained recognition as a growing scientific discipline at the national and international level. The uses of epidemiological methods are discussed with respect to animal disease control. Although there has been some progress in this area, research into epidemiological methods in Germany is unsatisfactory compared to lending countries. The so-called >>administrative aspects<< of epidemiological studies has to be gradually reduced in favour of a more pragmatically orientated research approach. The integrative nature of the epidemiology discipline should be a more central activity. An overevaluation of, or concentration on, particular scientific aspects has to be replaced by a balanced involvement of all specific disciplines. Future research needs to be focused on the preventive and prospective type of epidemiological study based on reliable data and appropriate analyses. As animal diseases are complex processes, limited and short-term research studies seldom, if ever, yield useful results. Recent initiatives for the development of a separate and effective veterinary epidemiological facility are bound to fail, if the necessary change in higher education in epidemiology in Germany does not occur.