Epizootics, International Office of

the executive organ of the International Epizootic Service. The office, organized in 1924, is located in Paris. As of 1975, 97 countries on five continents were members. The USSR has been a member since 1927.

The International Office of Epizootics coordinates research on the pathology and prevention of diseases in cases requiring international cooperation and collects data on the course of infectious diseases and information from governments and veterinary agencies on epizootics and their control. It also studies drafts of agreements relating to veterinary inspection of animals and offers governments that sign the agreements the opportunity to exert checks on their implementation. In the USSR, a national group of specialists and scientists was appointed by the Central Veterinary Board of the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR to maintain contact with the International Office of Epizootics.