Communicable disease surveillance with limited resources: the scope to link human and veterinary programmes

Zoonoses are an important cause of human disease in much of Africa, but limitations in current diagnosis and surveillance strategies restrict the effectiveness of control and prevention programmes. Outbreaks of disease, ranging from Ebola virus infection to Rift Valley Fever, that have occurred recently in Africa have demonstrated the need for improved disease surveillance and monitoring. Strategies are suggested for co-ordinating human and animal disease surveillance programmes, at the district and regional level, to make more effective use of limited resources.