Strengthening laboratory capacity in response to emerging pandemic threats: FAO, OIE and WHO working together

Posted on 29 Aug 2011 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

Early detection of zoonotic pathogens emerging in wild and domestic animal populations before they become a threat to human health is a priority for the public health and animal health sectors. An effective and credible laboratory service is an essential component of such early detection systems. As part of the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) … Continue reading →

A4NH / Africa / Agri-Health / Animal Diseases / Article / Cattle / Disease Control / Genetics / Human Health / ILRI / Indigenous Breeds

An African cattle disease, disease-resistant cow and disease control solution

Posted on 20 Jun 2011 by Susan MacMillan • 3 Comments

The tsetse fly, which spreads the livestock disease trypanosomosis (photo credit: ILRI/Elsworth). Aid Netherlands has picked up news of a paper published last month in a leading scientific journal about a breakthrough in determining the genes responsible for controlling a tsetse fly-transmitted disease of livestock that has devastated Africa, and held back farming on the … Continue reading →

A4NH / Agri-Health / Animal Diseases / Diagnostics / Disease Control / East Africa / Epidemiology / Event / Human Health / ILRI / Kenya / Middle East / RVF / Trade / Zoonotic Diseases

Kenya forges new pact with Horn and Middle East in old war against deadly Rift Valley fever

Posted on 20 Jun 2011 by Susan MacMillan • Leave a comment

The pathogenesis of Rift Valley fever. Viruses 2011, 3(5), 493-519; doi:10.3390/v3050493 (image credit: A J Cann’s Flickr photostream). Kenya’s Business Daily newspaper reports that Kenya is forging a new pact in an old war against the deadly mosquito-transmitted ‘zoonotic’—human plus livestock—disease called Rift Valley fever. ‘Kenya has partnered with neighbouring stats to boost surveillance on Rift Valley … Continue reading →

A4NH / Agri-Health / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Human Health / Livestock / Zoonotic Diseases

One Health: the 21st century challenge

Posted on 17 Jun 2011 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

In this month’s Veterinary Record, Edinburgh University’s Sue Welburn assesses recent progress in developing the One Health concept, and where the challenges remain. She argues that “One Health offers a paradigm shift in our approach towards zoonotic diseases, and is essential to meet 21st century challenges arising from globalisation, climate change and population growth. It … Continue reading →

A4NH / Agri-Health / Animal Diseases / Disease Control / Emerging Diseases / Human Health / Livestock / Zoonotic Diseases

Innovative global science network to target animal diseases

Posted on 16 Jun 2011 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • 1 Comment

In an innovative approach for the animal health sector, a global research network aimed at tackling some of the world’s most devastating animal diseases has been launched. Bringing together thousands of scientists from research organisations across five continents, as well as the pharmaceutical industry and international animal health bodies, the network seeks to improve co-ordination … Continue reading →

A4NH / Agri-Health / Agriculture / Human Health / Impact Assessment

Measuring the effects of integrated agriculture-health interventions

Posted on 8 Jun 2011 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

A recent workshop by the Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)’s Agriculture and Health Research Platform brought together health, nutrition and agriculture specialists to explore the development of common tools and methods to evaluate integrated agri-health interventions. More on the workshop Download the … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / BecA / Human Health

‘Africa rising’–Bill Gates on what’s working in health and agriculture

Posted on 4 Feb 2011 by Susan MacMillan • Leave a comment

Bill Gates made a private visit to the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub (BecA Hub), hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in Nairobi, Kenya, in early December 2009, and toured the new and refurbished labs (photo credit: ILRI/Ouma). Bill Gates writes in his third annual letter that he sees ‘Africa … Continue reading →

Agriculture / Cattle / CGIAR / China / Food Safety / Human Health

Bringing agriculture and health back together

Posted on 31 Aug 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Agriculture and health experts must work together to tackle disease, poverty and malnutrition, says development expert Jeff Waage. The relationship between agriculture and health may seem intuitive and simple — grow more crops and people will have more food and live healthier lives. But because agriculture and health policies are rarely coordinated, the reality is … Continue reading →

Animal Diseases / Bird flu / Disease Control / Human Health / Zoonotic Diseases

After H1N1, researchers warn of a potential new superbug

Posted on 24 Feb 2010 by Dorine Adhoch • Leave a comment

When the 2009 H1N1 flu virus emerged last April, it triggered the first new pandemic in more than 40 years, producing endless headlines and panic. But, now, some 10 months into the pandemic, the public’s fear has subsided. H1N1 turned out to be relatively weak, and action by global and national health officials has helped … Continue reading →

Agriculture / Climate Change / Disease Control / Environment / Human Health / Innovation Systems / Knowledge and Information / Vaccines

Bill Gates says innovation can leverage change

Posted on 29 Jan 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The needs of the poor are greater than the money available to help them, but that’s not enough to discourage Bill Gates in his work as co-chair of the world’s largest charitable foundation. In his second annual letter, issued Monday, Gates says investment in science and technology can leverage those dollars and make more of … Continue reading →