Animal disease surveillance and control measures can usually only be applied successfully if they are accepted and supported by the groups of people involved, such as farmers or hunters. Accordingly, it is indispensable to include the perceptions, concerns and also preferences of involved persons in the development and application of such measures. Using social science methods and participatory epidemiology, the "participatory epidemiology" working group integrates important key persons and their viewpoints into research, thereby enabling a more tailored assessment of animal disease surveillance or control measures. The recognition of the importance of the affected groups of people and the willingness of the different groups of people to communicate with each other is essential for a joint and successful animal disease surveillance and control.