Zoonotic disease research in East Africa

Kemunto, Naomi; Mogoa, E G M; Osoro, Eric; Bitek, Austin; Njenga, M. Kariuki; Thumbi, Samuel M.

doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3443-8

Cited by 39 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The exact number of human deaths due to rabies in Kenya is unknown, although estimates have been made for some regions of the country and as part of the global burden of rabies estimates 1,9,10 . A recent review of research on human and animal rabies in Kenya revealed 12 published manuscripts and four theses on rabies covering mainly knowledge attitudes and practices on rabies, dog ecology and demographics and bite exposures 11 . A formal assessment of zoonotic diseases in Kenya has placed rabies among the top five priority zoonotic diseases 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030

Bitek¹,

Osoro²,

Munyua³

et al. 2019

AAS Open Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Rabies causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually. In Kenya, rabies was first reported in a dog in 1912, with the first human case reported in 1928. Here we examine retrospective rabies data in Kenya for the period 1912 – 2017 and describe the spatial and temporal patterns of rabies occurrence in the country. Additionally, we detail Kenya’s strategy for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Methods: Data on submitted samples and confirmed cases in humans, domestic animals and wildlife were obtained from Kenya’s Directorate of Veterinary Services. These data were associated with the geographical regions where the samples originated, and temporal and spatial trends examined. Results: Between 1912 and the mid 1970’s, rabies spread across Kenya gradually, with fewer than 50 cases reported per year and less than half of the 47 counties affected. Following an outbreak in the mid 1970’s, rabies spread rapidly to more than 85% of counties, with a 4 fold increase in the percent positivity of samples submitted and number of confirmed rabies cases. Since 1958, 7,584 samples from domestic animals (93%), wildlife (5%), and humans (2%) were tested. Over two-thirds of all rabies cases came from six counties, all in close proximity to veterinary diagnostic laboratories, highlighting a limitation of passive surveillance. Conclusions: Compulsory annual dog vaccinations between 1950’s and the early 1970’s slowed rabies spread. The rapid spread with peak rabies cases in the 1980’s coincided with implementation of structural adjustment programs privatizing the veterinary sector leading to breakdown of rabies control programs. To eliminate human deaths from rabies by 2030, Kenya is implementing a 15-year step-wise strategy based on three pillars: a) mass dog vaccination, b) provision of post-exposure prophylaxis and public awareness and c) improved surveillance for rabies in dogs and humans with prompt responses to rabies outbreaks.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030

Bitek¹,

Osoro²,

Munyua³

et al. 2019

AAS Open Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sub-Saharan Africa remains a hotspot region with a high prevalence of these zoonotic infectious diseases (Fig. 3), causing debilitating effects on people and their livestock (Kemunto et al 2018). In addition, there are non-zoonotic infectious diseases such as peste des petits ruminants (PPR), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) which further exacerbate livestock problems and losses among pastoralists in Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent reports about the emergence of infectious diseases in most of sub-Saharan Africa are linked to zoonotic infectious diseases. The frequency and trend of the emergence and re-emergence of diseases such as Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley fever and anthrax appear to be on the rise (Kemunto et al 2018). Several risk factors catalyse the transmissibility of zoonotic infectious diseases, including livestock slaughter, handling and preparation of animal-origin food and consumption of such animal products, especially when improperly cooked or in their raw form (Mangesho et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short report on implications of Covid-19 and emerging zoonotic infectious diseases for pastoralists and Africa

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many emerging and re-emerging zoonotic infectious diseases occur in Africa. These are projected to increase as human-animal host contact increases owing to increasing environmental degradation that shrinks nature habitats for wildlife over the continent. The current outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for causing coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) has reinvigorated discourse on the disruptiveness of the zoonotic emerging infectious diseases, owing to their transboundary character. Even as the world focuses on the COVID-19 sweeping pandemic, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS)-CoV re-emerged in Saudi Arabia infecting 18 people with five deaths; this has barely received any attention. This outbreak is particularly of concern to the pastoralists in the Horn of Africa, a region that has in recent past seen an increase in camel trade with the Gulf States, especially Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic infectious diseases are complex, depend on human-animal-environment interaction and pose a strain on public health systems. There is a need to address these diseases dynamically through a synergistic approach, drawing on expertise from diverse sectors. One Health approach has distinguished itself as an integrative action able to bring together multiple actors on a global, national and local scale to advance the attainment of optimal health outcomes for people, animals and the environment. One Health works by strengthening the preparedness, response, mitigation and monitoring of zoonotic infectious disease risks collaboratively. We opine that as zoonotic emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continue to rise over pastoral Africa, comprehensive implementation of the One Health approach will be urgently required.

show abstract

“…The World Bank estimated that 6 major zoonotic disease epidemics during 1997-2009 resulted in an economic loss of more than $80 billion [1]. Controlling zoonotic disease outbreaks has become ever more important, it has been estimated that since 1940, about 40% of the emerging infectious diseases affecting humans globally, but mainly in developing countries, have originated from animals, both domestic and wild [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An increase in the interaction between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans increases the chance of zoonotic disease transmission. The sub-Saharan region was identified as one of the hotspot regions with a high prevalence of endemic zoonotic diseases and where it has a large rural population that lives in close proximity with livestock and wildlife [6,7]. In some parts of the sub-Saharan countries such as Zimbabwe, they still have problems regarding the control of zoonoses, mainly due to the lack of enough infrastructure and resources for disease surveillance [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of Optimal Health Education Programs on the Control of Zoonotic Diseases

Mhlanga

2020

Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To better understand the dynamics of zoonotic diseases, we propose a deterministic mathematical model to study the dynamics of zoonotic brucellosis with a focus on developing countries. The model contains all the relevant biological details, including indirect transmission by the environment. We analyze the essential dynamic behavior of the model and perform an optimal control study to design effective prevention and intervention strategies. The sensitivity analysis of the model parameters is performed. The aim of the controls is tied to reducing the number of infected humans, through health promotional programs within the affected communities. The Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle is used to characterize the optimal level of the controls, and the resulting optimality system is solved numerically. Overall, the study demonstrates that through health promotional programs on zoonotic diseases among villagers, it is vital that they should be conducted with high efficacy.

show abstract

Zoonotic disease research in East Africa

Cited by 39 publications

References 28 publications

A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030

A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030

Short report on implications of Covid-19 and emerging zoonotic infectious diseases for pastoralists and Africa

Assessing the Impact of Optimal Health Education Programs on the Control of Zoonotic Diseases

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About