The use of participatory disease searching in Pakistan as a form of active disease surveillance for rinderpest and more

Comprehensive animal health surveillance programmes require components that ensure the overall sensitivity and timeliness of surveillance data. Participatory epidemiology (PE) is the application of participatory rural appraisal techniques to the collection of epidemiological intelligence. Participatory disease searching (PDS) is the use of PE techniques in active disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. This paper describes the results of a PDS programme in Pakistan implemented as part of the national disease surveillance system designed to meet the needs of international disease control and local stakeholders. The experience highlighted the importance of attention to stakeholder priorities for the sustainability of disease surveillance.