The Institute of Epidemiology ( IfE ) deals with the epidemiology of native animal diseases (e.g. avian influenza, bluetongue, BSE , classical swine fever, rabies), the prevention of non-native infectious diseases (risk assessments for imports, early warning systems) and the biomathematical and epidemiological principles of risk assessment. Using modern epidemiological methods, which also make use of mathematical models and geographical information systems, new findings are gained that are incorporated into practical animal disease control.