Welcome to the Veterinary public health blog where experts and interested individuals can exchange ideas of topical issues of public health importance.
International trade in livestock and livestock products is an important foreign exchange earner and any country with livestock will always yearn to participate in international trade.of either live animals livestock products or both. Ciountries intending to participate in this will have to comply with animal health code and be able to meet sanitary measures put in place by importing countries. Kenya is one of those countries that is trying hard to be able to trade internationally. In your opinion do you think there is any need to bother with international trade in livestock and livestock products considering that Kenya is a net importer of livestock? Do you think the country will be able to meet the sanitary requirements which they have to date not been able to meet especially to the important European Union.market? Please give your views.
The H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China in2013 has subsided , but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic,scientists describe the history of H7 viruses in animal and human disease and point out that H7 influenza has a tendency to become established in bird, horse, and swine populations and may spillover repeatedly into humans. cases are being reported in many countries including even in some American countries. check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza
interesting.... I wonder if there are any cases yet in Africa and in any case how prepared are we? and what needs to be done to make us prepared for such?
For the current outbreak, no cases have been reported in Africa.We really need to up our surveillance system. This disease can be devastating. Recall the massive losses in the poultry industry during the last scare.
Very true daktari.... i have beeen made to understand that the district veterinary offices were equiped with the necessary protective gear incase it occurs... but thinking of it... it should be coupled with public and veterinary proffesionals education especially given that most proffessionals who will be involved in the county regoins will be AHAs. They should be educated on the disease so they know what is expected of them. Especially given that majority don't know alot about avian diseases.
On the preparedness to Avian Influenza outbreak response, the DVS has two Rapid Response teams which were trained around year 2010. Each member of the team is designated a particular task e.g epidemiology, sample collection, disposal, logistic e.t.c One team was to be based at Kabete and the other at Nakuru. The team members may not necessarily be stationed at this points for now but they can be summoned at a moment notice. At least we have something to fall back to incase..... but we hope the outbreak will never occur.
Global warming is too colossal of an issue to summarize on a whiteboard, but the way this guy divides the possible futures of humanity makes a lot of sense.
This is a must see: http://www.upworthy.com/one-guy-with-a-marker-just-made-the-global-warming-debate-completely-obsolete
Dr. J H Steele was born in April 1913 in Chicago and graduated as a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1941, from Michigan State University. A year later he was awarded a masters degree from Havard University School of Public Health. In 1945 he started the VPH unit in the public health services in Washington and in 1947 he and the unit moved to Atlanta in what is currently known as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His work on brucellosis in a lab in Michigan University in 1930s brought to fore the need to recognize the importance of disease control in animals and to prevent it from spreading to humans. He insisted that economic prosperity was rooted in animal, human and environmental health. He pioneered many vaccination programs at federal level first, then state level, against rabies and brucellosis and even became assistant secretary for health in the early 70s. He travelled to many countries developing vph programs for disease control including the Nile virus and BSE in Nigeria. He is credited with the recognition by government in the mid 20th century for the need to control diseases in animals in order to protect humans. Many epidemiologists and health workers are now more aware of the significance of zoonoses, 70% of which comprises the emerging diseases. In 1964 he wrote a paper on "the socioeconomic responsibilities of veterinary medicine" creating immense awareness the role that the veterinary proffession plays in public health. He became proffessor of Public Health from Texas University School of Public Health in 1971. Many students cite him as their mentor and you can see why he is considered father of VPH by many.
i wish to urge us all to keep this blog active and continue to share and discuss the different interesting aspects in the projects we will be involved in.
The 2nd One Health Eastern and Central Africa ( OHCEA) conference is coming up this November 2015. To find out the theme and venue follow this link: http://www.zoonotic-diseases.org/2nd-ohcea-one-health-conference/
Welcome to the Veterinary public health blog where experts and interested individuals can exchange ideas of topical issues of public health importance.
ReplyDeleteInternational trade in livestock and livestock products is an important foreign exchange earner and any country with livestock will always yearn to participate in international trade.of either live animals livestock products or both. Ciountries intending to participate in this will have to comply with animal health code and be able to meet sanitary measures put in place by importing countries. Kenya is one of those countries that is trying hard to be able to trade internationally. In your opinion do you think there is any need to bother with international trade in livestock and livestock products considering that Kenya is a net importer of livestock? Do you think the country will be able to meet the sanitary requirements which they have to date not been able to meet especially to the important European Union.market? Please give your views.
ReplyDeleteThe H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China in2013 has subsided , but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic,scientists describe the history of H7 viruses in animal and human disease and point out that H7 influenza has a tendency to become established in bird, horse, and swine populations and may spillover repeatedly into humans. cases are being reported in many countries including even in some American countries. check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza
ReplyDeleteinteresting.... I wonder if there are any cases yet in Africa and in any case how prepared are we? and what needs to be done to make us prepared for such?
DeleteFor the current outbreak, no cases have been reported in Africa.We really need to up our surveillance system. This disease can be devastating. Recall the massive losses in the poultry industry during the last scare.
DeleteVery true daktari.... i have beeen made to understand that the district veterinary offices were equiped with the necessary protective gear incase it occurs... but thinking of it... it should be coupled with public and veterinary proffesionals education especially given that most proffessionals who will be involved in the county regoins will be AHAs. They should be educated on the disease so they know what is expected of them. Especially given that majority don't know alot about avian diseases.
DeleteOn the preparedness to Avian Influenza outbreak response, the DVS has two Rapid Response teams which were trained around year 2010. Each member of the team is designated a particular task e.g epidemiology, sample collection, disposal, logistic e.t.c One team was to be based at Kabete and the other at Nakuru. The team members may not necessarily be stationed at this points for now but they can be summoned at a moment notice. At least we have something to fall back to incase..... but we hope the outbreak will never occur.
DeleteThank you for responding to MVPH blog.
ReplyDeleteGlobal warming is too colossal of an issue to summarize on a whiteboard, but the way this guy divides the possible futures of humanity makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteThis is a must see: http://www.upworthy.com/one-guy-with-a-marker-just-made-the-global-warming-debate-completely-obsolete
This is great madam manager. You blog is doing well. Keepit up.
ReplyDeleteThanks prof. Will keep doing my best.
Deletedid you know..... Dr. James Harlan Steele, is known as the father of veterinary public health.
ReplyDeleteI wish to know more about him, what he did and how he became to be known as the father of vph. Whay are the highlights of his discoveries?
ReplyDeleteDr. J H Steele was born in April 1913 in Chicago and graduated as a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1941, from Michigan State University. A year later he was awarded a masters degree from Havard University School of Public Health. In 1945 he started the VPH unit in the public health services in Washington and in 1947 he and the unit moved to Atlanta in what is currently known as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His work on brucellosis in a lab in Michigan University in 1930s brought to fore the need to recognize the importance of disease control in animals and to prevent it from spreading to humans. He insisted that economic prosperity was rooted in animal, human and environmental health. He pioneered many vaccination programs at federal level first, then state level, against rabies and brucellosis and even became assistant secretary for health in the early 70s. He travelled to many countries developing vph programs for disease control including the Nile virus and BSE in Nigeria. He is credited with the recognition by government in the mid 20th century for the need to control diseases in animals in order to protect humans. Many epidemiologists and health workers are now more aware of the significance of zoonoses, 70% of which comprises the emerging diseases. In 1964 he wrote a paper on "the socioeconomic responsibilities of veterinary medicine" creating immense awareness the role that the veterinary proffession plays in public health. He became proffessor of Public Health from Texas University School of Public Health in 1971. Many students cite him as their mentor and you can see why he is considered father of VPH by many.
DeleteBy the way, Dr. James H. Steele passed on last November 10 in Houston, aged 100 YEARS... May the almighty rest his soul in eternal peace.
Deletei wish to urge us all to keep this blog active and continue to share and discuss the different interesting aspects in the projects we will be involved in.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd One Health Eastern and Central Africa ( OHCEA) conference is coming up this November 2015.
ReplyDeleteTo find out the theme and venue follow this link:
http://www.zoonotic-diseases.org/2nd-ohcea-one-health-conference/