Excerpts from the report Foreword: The report highlights significant epidemiologic events of 2006 and provides insight into the Nation’s animal health surveillance activities. In addition, the report presents an update on programs, both new and existing, that strive to maintain healthy livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations. This year, we are introducing two new chapters—animal health research and international collaboration. Animal health research is an important component of the U.S. animal health infrastructure. A description of this infrastructure—a complex network of Federal, State, and industry partners—is again included in the report as a reference tool.