Epizootic diseases are contagious animal diseases classified as societal risks due to their potential impact on human and animal health and national economy. In Sweden, all practicing veterinarians suspecting an epizootic disease are obliged to report to the authorities, take samples, and initiate measures preventing spread of infection.
Previous international studies on epizootic diseases show that veterinarians’ duties towards society and public health might be in conflict with their duties toward human clients and animal patients, but there is no such research from Sweden.
The proposed study aims to explore Swedish livestock animal veterinarians’ understanding and management of epizootic disease threats focusing on how tensions and uncertainties are handled and how policies/preparedness plans are related to and used in practice.
Theoretically the project draws on an understanding of veterinary work as a situated relational doing, which potentially is characterised by uncertainty and tensions. Data consists of interviews with: 1) livestock veterinarians about their experiences from epizootic diseases, and 2) professionals from concerned authorities. The project draws together sociology and veterinary science, and is a unique contribution to the research on contagious animal diseases. It will produce new knowledge on veterinary professional practice, on management of infections threatening society, and the interaction between human and livestock health.
The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council.
Hedvig Gröndal
Researcher at the Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health; Division of Bacteriology and Food Safety
Telephone: +46737006015
E-mail: hedvig.grondal@slu.se
Susanna Sternberg Lewerin
Professor at the Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health; Division of Bacteriology and Food Safety
Telephone: +4618673192
E-mail: susanna.sternberg-lewerin@slu.se