A walk on the wild side—emerging wildlife diseases

Likewise, liaison between organisations at government and national levels is a prerequisite for deciding policies and disseminating information clearly and quickly.Local collaboration also has an important role in discussing local and national issues.Meetings are currently mostly confined to regular and ad hoc meetings between professionals from organisations such as the state veterinary service, health protection agencies, and local and water authorities.10 Little routine local collaboration occurs between the medical and veterinary professions in general practice.But sharing local knowledge and expertise would have real benefits for the immediate human and animal populations.Sporadic or community and animal outbreaks of salmonellosis may, for example, have a common source of which only one profession is aware.Other potential benefits include reduced incidence of antibiotic resistance through sharing and comparing use, highlighting common environmental hazards such as farm discharges, and identifying research priorities.The time has surely come for medical and veterinary general practitioners to get together to share knowledge and voice concerns.Local concerns, which may become national problems, can be identified only through an open and integrated professional approach.Willingness by both the veterinary and medical professions at both local and national levels to collaborate and share information is therefore essential for the protection and promotion of public health.