The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is calling for veterinary and border control authorities in Asia to be on alert for animals showing signs of infection by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), following an unprecedented outbreak of the livestock-affecting sickness in South Korea. Since late November 2010, South Korean authorities have imposed quarantines, initiated a … Continue reading
Category Archives: Animal Diseases
Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Ethiopia / Livestock / PPR
September 2010 issue of IBAR Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa
The Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa publishes articles on original research relevant to animal health and production activities which may lead to the improvement of the livestock industry in Africa and better utilisation of her animal resources. The September 2010 issue is now online; contents include: Pan African Strategy for the Progressive … Continue reading
Animal Breeding / Animal Diseases / Animal Feeding / Animal Health / Animal Production / Asia / India / Livestock / Livestock Systems / South Asia
Demand led transformation of the livestock sector in India
The South Asia Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the World Bank has produced its first assessment of the livestock sector in India since 1996. According to the report, a ‘livestock revolution’ has occurred on a large scale in India over the last couple of decades. Demand for all major livestock commodities (milk, eggs, meat) … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Knowledge and Information / Livestock / RVF / Tanzania
Traditional knowledge key to managing Rift Valley fever
By assessing key risk factors and symptoms, such as an increase in rainfall and high abortion rates, Somali and Maasai herders accurately predicted the outbreak of Rift Valley fever in 2006/07 long before veterinary and public health interventions began, researchers have discovered. “Timely outbreak response requires effective early warning and surveillance systems,” say authors of … Continue reading
USDA scientists discover how foot-and-mouth disease virus begins infection in cattle
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have identified the primary site where the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) begins infection in cattle. This discovery could lead to development of new vaccines to control and potentially eradicate FMD, a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that is considered the most economically … Continue reading
Researchers make progress toward finding a new cure for nagana-infected livestock
In Zulu, “nagana” means “depressed in spirits.” To many poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, however, nagana is more than just an emotion—it’s a disease that plagues their livestock, exacerbating poverty and hunger in the region. But researchers in Belgium may soon have something to raise the temperaments of African farmers: a drug aimed at curing … Continue reading
Washington State University to construct global animal health research facilities
An American billionaire who built his fortune as co-founder of software giant Microsoft has given a university $26 million to find ways of improving Africa’s ability to respond to animal-borne diseases. Paul G. Allen, an investor and philanthropist, has made the largest gift to Washington State University in the school’s history — $26 million to … Continue reading
USAID PREDICT Programme releases a new forecasting framework for disease emergence
USAID’s PREDICT project, part of the Emerging Pandemic Threats program, seeks to proactively identify disease-causing organisms in wildlife before they spread to humans. Local capacity is being established and enhanced in global geographic hotspots which have high potential for disease transmission among animals and humans. Currently, about 24 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock / RVF
Why is Rift Valley fever such a menace to livestock in Eastern Africa?
Mid-2010 , the Kenya’s Ministry of livestock development placed its veterinary department on high alert over a possible outbreak of a Rift Valley fever epidemic in the North Eastern, Upper Eastern and Rift Valley provinces. Livestock Minister Mohamed Kuti, while issuing the alert, announced that a massive vaccination campaign was due to begin in the … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Asia / Disease Control / Epidemiology / ILRI / Impact Assessment / Latin America / Value Chains
‘Bottom-up’ approaches that marry epidemiology and economics work best in assessing the impacts of animal diseases in developing countries–ILRI paper
ILRI economist Karl Rich (credit: ILRI). Former ILRI epidemiologist Brian Perry (credit ILRI/Perry). ‘A new study by researchers working with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is recommending use of “bottom-up” approaches that use the strengths offered by value chain analysis and information economics in assessing the impacts of animal diseases and their interaction with … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 