The aim of managing animal health is to minimise the negative effects of animal diseases on animal production and welfare, trade in livestock and livestock products, and human health. It involves preventing outbreaks of epidemic diseases and managing endemic diseases in cost-effective ways that minimise their impact on production, trade, livelihoods and human health and prevent their spread to areas where they are not endemic. The ability of animal health service providers in both the public and private sector to effectively manage animal health depends on knowledge of the diseases involved and access to information and tools as required.

Tools for managing animal health can be divided into three broad categories:

• Tools for gathering and disseminating information about animal health
• Tools to support strategic planning for and evaluation of disease prevention and control interventions
• Tools used for disease prevention and control interventions