Identification of the problems: proceedings of the WHO Expert Consultation on Some Veterinary Public Health Problems.

The growing development of intensive large-scale animal production units has become an essential and unavoidable trend in both the socialist and non-socialist agro-industries. This in turn has led to an increase in the risks to human and animal health because of the unique characteristics of these units. From the public health point of view surveillance should focus on four major areas: 1) the zoonoses; 2) chemical residues; 3) environmental pollution; 4) occupational diseases. The paper elaborates on these points and discusses practical action to be taken at the planning level to minimize the health risks.