East Africa seeks to curb spread of zoonotic diseases

Countries in the East and Horn of African region will intensify surveillance, research and capacity development to strengthen response to disease causing pathogens transmitted from animals to humans, officials said on Tuesday

Speaking during the launch of a regional program on Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) in Nairobi, the officials sounded alarm over the rising threat of zoonotic diseases to human health, food security and social order.

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Willy Bett who opened the meeting said zoonotic diseases could wreak havoc to regional economies hence the need for robust interventions to tame them.

"Statistics indicate that an estimated 60 percent of all human diseases and 75 percent of all emerging infections are zoonotic. Most of these infections come from pigs, chickens, cattle, goats, sheep and camels," Bett said.

A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed between animals and humans and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.

These diseases are very common. Scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals

Bett added that regional governments are harmonizing policy and regulatory frameworks to enhance rapid detection and containment of disease causing pathogens transmitted by animals.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have financed the Emerging Pandemic Threats Program to strengthen response to zoonotic diseases in the greater horn of Africa.

Bett said the program has revitalized cross border surveillance on zoonotic diseases like Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, Marburg Virus and Avian flu.

"The east and horn of Africa region has been classified as a zoonotic diseases hotspot. These highly infectious diseases could hamper economic growth," Bett told policymakers and experts.

Kenya has recently experienced an outbreak of fatal zoonotic diseases like Rift Valley Fever.

According to the Cabinet Secretary for agriculture and livestock, there are fourteen zoonotic diseases that are currently circulating within the Kenyan borders.

"The rising number of livestock population, closer animal-human interactions as well as ecological depletion has increased the risk of pathogens` transmission to humans," said Bett

Multilateral agencies will increase financial and technical support to boost the capacity of the greater horn of African countries to combat zoonotic diseases.

Robert Allport, the Acting FAO Representative in Kenya emphasized that regional collaboration in surveillance, public awareness and research is key to contain the threat of zoonotic diseases to civilians.

"Governments in the region must set up strong coordination mechanisms to sustain response to animal transmitted pathogens. They should also pay attention to anti-biotic resistance to a number of zoonotic diseases," Allport said.

He revealed multilateral institutions will strengthen the technical capacity of east and horn of African states to detect, predict and respond to animal transmitted infections. Enditem