In much of Africa, a herd of cattle is more than just cows. It’s a savings account, protein store, dowry, funeral fund, symbol of wealth, and hedge against drought. For many smallholder farmers, the loss of even a single cow to disease can spell ruin. Yet a grievous number of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa get … Continue reading
Category Archives: Animal Diseases
Namibia prevented spread of Rift Valley fever, saved lives
FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf yesterday commended Namibia for acting swiftly and effectively to halt the spread of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in the country during recent outbreaks. Speaking at a meeting in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in Windhoek, Diouf praised the Namibian institutions involved. “Their alertness and prompt reaction prevented outbreaks of … Continue reading
Animal Diseases / Biotechnology / Disease Control / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Pastoralism / Vaccines
Masai herders buy vaccine to protect their cattle from lethal disease
Photo credit: ILRI / Mann ‘When asked about the success of vaccination against East Coast fever (ECF) in northern Tanzania, Dr Lieve Lynen, is remarkably modest. And yet more than 500,000 animals have been vaccinated against ECF in Tanzania since 1998, largely due to the work of Lynen’s pharmaceutical company VetAgro Tanzania, which has led … Continue reading
Pig farmers in western Kenya help control epilepsy
A recent article in The New York Times highlights the findings of a research project focused on improving pig production and health in western Kenya that the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) played a role in supporting. ILRI has been involved for several years in the efforts of the Cysticercosis Working Group of Central and … Continue reading
WSU takes big role in fighting animal diseases
Researchers at Washington State University are working to prevent diseases from moving from animals to humans, and they will soon have a new state-of-the-art facility to help them. The Pullman school broke ground Friday 25 June on the $35 million headquarters for its new School for Global Animal Health. The building was funded with a … Continue reading
Molecular diagnostic methods help identify disease in livestock
Scientists have developed technology that can be carried to the field in a laptop suitcase to diagnose diseases in animals on the spot. The joint division of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are using molecular diagnostic methods, once only available in laboratories. Dr. Hermann Unger, Technical Officer … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / RVF / Vaccines
New vaccine strategies could safely control Rift Valley fever
Two new approaches could form the basis for the first-ever human vaccine for Rift Valley Fever (RVF), an infectious disease that threatens both farm animals and people, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research. Reported in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, experimental vaccines developed with these approaches produced strong immune responses in … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / Livestock / Uganda / Vaccines
Uganda to manufacture poultry and animal drugs
Kampala — Uganda is set to start manufacturing poultry and animal drugs. This was announced at the commissioning of the construction of the veterinary pharmaceutical plant in Namanve last Thursday. The plant, which is estimated to cost $15m (about sh600m) will be carried out in three phases. Dr. Stephen Birungi, the managing director Farm Support … Continue reading
Africa / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / Kenya / Livestock / Vaccines
Kenya government to strengthen livestock vaccine production
The Government’s quest to tap into the multi-million livestock disease vaccine market has moved a notch higher following the inauguration of a new board of directors to steer the Kenya veterinary vaccines production unit-(Kevevapi). Read more … (The Standard) Continue reading
Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Disease Control / ECF / ILRI / Livestock / Vaccines
Protecting cattle from East Coast fever
… Every year, over one million cattle in east and southern Africa die from East Coast fever – that’s about one cow every thirty seconds. The hardship caused by the disease to livestock keepers and their families is terrible, and financially, the loss to east Africa alone is around 190 million US dollars each year. … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 