Livestock trade is culprit in sleeping sickness spread

Posted on 25 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Scientists baffled by the continued spread of sleeping sickness through Uganda have discovered that it is livestock markets that are driving the disease. A team from Uganda and the United Kingdom analysed the incidence of the serious Rhodesian form of sleeping sickness, which is carried by cattle, in two newly affected districts. They confirmed that … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Bird flu / Disease Control

Preparing for highly pathogenic avian influenza

Posted on 24 Jan 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) represents a threat to poultry industries worldwide and to people’s livelihoods, and a potential threat to human health. The international community has a vested interest in minimizing the spread of this disease. Countries may be under threat of introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza through unregulated poultry trade and marketing … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Livestock / Southern Africa

Zimbabwe reports anthrax outbreak

Posted on 19 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday reported a fresh outbreak of anthrax in some parts of the country. Veterinary Services director Stewart Hargreaves told ZimOnline that his department has recorded fresh reports of an outbreak of the deadly livestock disease. “There has been an outbreak over the past two weeks. The outbreak has been recorded in … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Disease Control / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Kenya / Livestock / Vaccines

New vaccine to reduce East Coast Fever

Posted on 17 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The high livestock mortality in East and Central Africa due to East Coast fever is set to reduce following a near breakthrough in the development of a recombinant (dead) vaccine. The vaccine once developed will be used in the immunization of livestock against East Coast fever. According to Molecular Biology Scientist Roger Pelle working at … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Disease Control / East Africa / Livestock / Uganda

Sleeping sickness: Treating cattle to protect people

Posted on 16 Jan 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Every year, as many as 60,000 people in Africa die of sleeping sickness, a disease that passes between and among humans and animals through the bite of tsetse flies. Livestock such as cattle act as a reservoir for the disease, so treating cattle to cure them, and preventing re-infection through insecticide spraying, helps to reduce … Continue reading →

BecA / Biotechnology / Central Africa / East Africa / ECF / ILRI / Research

Modern science lab opens in Kenya

Posted on 15 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Africa’s Scientists and researchers can now access latest equipment and technologies related to science at a new world-class research facility in Nairobi. The facility which is based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) will afford Africa’s scientists an opportunity to venture into new research areas without prohibitive costs and regulations to conduct the same … Continue reading →

Africa / Animal Diseases / Livestock / Southern Africa

Zambia government to establish livestock disease-free zones

Posted on 10 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

GOVERNMENT will this year establish disease-free zones in three provinces in order to control major livestock diseases and improve livestock productivity with enhanced provision of infrastructure. It is expected that within the zone and its borders, appropriate official veterinary control would be effectively applied for animals and animal products and their transportation. Read more … … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Emerging Diseases

Independent examines diseases that jump from animals to humans

Posted on 5 Jan 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

The Independent examines the expansion of human diseases that originated in animals. “At least 45 diseases that have passed from animals to humans have been reported to U.N. agencies in the last two decades, with the number expected to escalate in the coming years,” the Independent writes. Read more … (Medical News) Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Disease Control / Livestock

Cattle ‘Black Death’ banished to history

Posted on 4 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

An animal ‘black death’ that has devastated livestock around the world for thousands of years, causing famine and untold human misery, is about to be permanently consigned to the history books. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is confident that rinderpest is beaten after being at the centre of efforts to wipe out … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Australia / Diagnostics / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Knowledge and Information / Livestock

Animal disease knowledge repository for Australia

Posted on 27 Dec 2009 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network (ABIN) has approved the setting up of a repository of animal disease information to augment use of the Virtual Microscopy Laboratory Network used by veterinary pathologists. Participants using the repository will be able to: access, share and add to information in knowledge repositories for disease reference material, standards for testing, … Continue reading →