| Summary: | Brucellosis or contagious abortion Cue: While the majority of livestock diseases are of no risk to humans, some diseases, known as zoonoses, can be transmitted between animals and people. One high profile example of recent times is avian flu. Another zoonosis, more common in Africa, is brucellosis. The disease is also known as contagious abortion, and affects livestock all over the world. It is particularly dangerous when animals are kept close together in large numbers, such as in intensive production systems. Eric Kadenge recently visited the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi to find out more about this disease, and how farmers can protect both themselves and their animals against it. He spoke to Dr Edward Okoth, Head of Biological Services at the institute. IN: ?Brucellosis is a bacterial disease ? OUT: ?boil milk before you drink it.? DUR?N 5?16? BACK ANNOUNCEMENT: Dr Edward Okoth with some important advice for preventing the spread of brucellosis, also known as contagious abortion, a disease which can be transmitted from livestock to humans. Transcript Okoth Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and the infection can be transmitted to humans also. The disease is spread through aborted foetuses from infected animals and its also transmitted through milk and especially milk that is not boiled or pasteurised. Kadenge Before we talk more about its effects on humans, I would like to find out what are the key symptoms that a farmer should look for in his livestock? Okoth The key symptom usually is abortion and especially in the later stages of pregnancy in animals, and infertility. That's the most common sign that you will always see. Kadenge Now if a farmer believes that one of his animals is affected, what steps should he or she take? Okoth The most important thing is to do a proper diagnosis. Currently there are diagnostic tools that are available and once an animal has been diagnosed with the disease, it's important to cull that animal. You basically ...
|
|---|