UN agency warns about possible spread of deadly animal virus in southern Africa

[News_Editor]

UN agency warns about possible spread of deadly animal virus in southern Africa

2010-11-03 01:53:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday warned that a deadly animal virus could spread to southern Africa after an outbreak earlier this year in Tanzania.

The deadly viral disease, known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), could threaten the lives of more than 50 million sheep and goats in fifteen African countries if it continues to spread. It is considered to be the most destructive viral disease affecting small ruminant animals.

PPR does not infect humans but is deadly for small ruminant flocks, on par with rinderpest in cattle in the past. It may cause death rates of up to 100 percent in sheep and goats that would provoke enormous socio-economic losses.

The warning by FAO was issued following a recent emergency mission to Tanzania by FAO's Crisis Management Center - Animal Health (CMC-AH) which recommended Tanzania to initiate an emergency vaccination program in the area near Malawi but also in Mozambique and Zambia.

The mission also urged these neighboring countries to get involved in the vigilance efforts and also engage in proactive surveillance. If the disease is not contained and spreads from Tanzania to the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), it could devastate the livelihoods and security of millions of herders and agro-pastoralists.

"Sheep and goats are critical to food and income security for pastoral communities," said Juan Lubroth, FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer. "The presence of the disease directly affects a family’s wealth, hence the veterinary services of countries in the region must review their preparedness plans, strengthen border control and improve surveillance."

PPR broke out in Tanzania in early 2010, threatening a local population of over 13.5 million goats and over 3.5 million sheep. It has affected the western, eastern and central areas of Africa but not the south.

The disease is easily transmissible by direct contact between live animals in shared pastures and at live animal markets. PPR also occurs in Middle Eastern countries and parts of Central and South Asia.

CMC-AH said that for the northern half of Tanzania, emergency vaccination around outbreak sites would be important to halt the virus and sheep and goat keepers must not move their animals until allowed to do so by the authorities.

FAO will help countries to monitor the availability of vaccine stocks, reinforce laboratory capacity and strengthen active surveillance in the field. The UN agency could also assist in enhancing awareness of the disease among veterinarians, auxiliaries, pastoralists and traders.

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