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Animal disease an increasing threat
A new report from the International Livestock Research Institute shows animal diseases pose an increasing threat to developing countries. Speaking to an international conference on agriculture, health and nutrition in Delhi, India on Friday, ILRI Deputy Director General John McDermott said about 700 million people in the developing world keep farm animals and they rely upon those animals to feed their families. He states “A new disease emerges every four months; many are trivial but HIV, SARS and avian influenza illustrate the huge potential impacts.”
Those diseases pose a threat not only to the animals but often times to humans as well, “61 percent of all human pathogens, and 75 percent of new human pathogens, are transmitted by animals,” according to McDermott. The report goes on to note, wealthy countries have the ability to deal with disease outbreaks, “but in Africa and Asia, the capacity of veterinary services to track and control outbreaks is lagging dangerously behind livestock intensification.”
McDermott urges developing countries to improve animal disease surveillance and speed up testing procedures to help contain livestock epidemics before they become widespread.
Good article Mr. Meyer, Animal diseases is an increasing threat, and this is nothing new. Reality is, diseases like BSE have been around since last century, just that it was never identified properly, and yes there is new diseases to contend with as well. A Traceability is therefore needed ASAP.
APHIS: Animal Disease Traceability Meeting