Evaluating the potential for the environmentally sustainable control of foot and mouth disease in Sub-Saharan Africa

Ferguson, K.J. et al. (2013) Evaluating the potential for the environmentally sustainable control of foot and mouth disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. EcoHealth, 10(3), pp. 314-322. (doi: 10.1007/s10393-013-0850-6) (PMID:23797715) (PMCID:PMC3857521)

Abstract

Strategies to control transboundary diseases have in the past generated unintended negative consequences for both the environment and local human populations. Integrating perspectives from across disciplines, including livestock, veterinary and conservation sectors, is necessary for identifying disease control strategies that optimise environmental goods and services at the wildlife-livestock interface. Prompted by the recent development of a global strategy for the control and elimination of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), this paper seeks insight into the consequences of, and rational options for potential FMD control measures in relation to environmental, conservation and human poverty considerations in Africa. We suggest a more environmentally nuanced process of FMD control that safe-guards the integrity of wild populations and the ecosystem dynamics on which human livelihoods depend while simultaneously improving socio-economic conditions of rural people. In particular, we outline five major issues that need to be considered: 1) improved understanding of the different FMD viral strains and how they circulate between domestic and wildlife populations; 2) an appreciation for the economic value of wildlife for many African countries whose presence might preclude the country from ever achieving an FMD-free status; 3) exploring ways in which livestock production can be improved without compromising wildlife such as implementing commodity-based trading schemes; 4) introducing a participatory approach involving local farmers and the national veterinary services in the control of FMD; and 5) finally the possibility that transfrontier conservation might offer new hope of integrating decision-making at the wildlife-livestock interface.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Haydon, Professor Daniel and Lembo, Dr Tiziana and Ferguson, Mr Kenneth and Hopcraft, Professor Grant and Cleaveland, Professor Sarah
• Authors: Ferguson, K.J., Cleaveland, S., Haydon, D.T., Caron, A., Kock, R.A., Lembo, T., Hopcraft, J.G.C., Chardonnet, B., Nyariki, T., Keyyu, J., Paton, D.J., and Kivaria, F.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: EcoHealth
• Publisher: Springer US
• ISSN: 1612-9202
• ISSN (Online): 1612-9210
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 The Authors
• First Published: First published in EcoHealth 10(3):314-322
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
51881	1	Towards the strategic control of foot-and-mouth disease in Africa: new techniques for a neglected problem	Sarah Cleaveland	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/H009302/1	RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED