World Health Organization activities on anthrax surveillance and control

The achievements of a World Health Organization Anthrax Working Group, established in 1990, have been the production of two editions of guidelines on anthrax surveillance and control and the formulation of templates to assist countries in the construction of their surveillance and control programmes. The latter was made possible by the active participation of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Zambia and the Livestock Development Programme, Mongu, Western Province, Zambia in a model country programme designed by the Working Group for the purpose. This paper elaborates on these achievements, particularly the lessons learned from the experience of Western Province, Zambia.