EAHA DM 1.2b: Introduction to Epi-zoonotic Diseases - Captions

This is a remix of 1.2b: Introduction to Epi-zoonotic Diseases narrated by Roy William Mayega (Makerere University). The original video (without captions) can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_OQdrwiIPQ. This video is part of a learning module from the East Africa HEALTH Alliance called Public Health Emergency Planning and Management for Districts. The full module and the video transcript can be accessed at http://openmi.ch/disaster-mgmt. Copyright 2009-2019 Roy Mayega (Makerere University). The video, transcript, and module are all shared under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

(English captions by Trisha Paul, University of Michigan.)

Introduction to Epi-zoonotic Diseases.

In this session, we shall look at key terminologies
and definitions related to zoonotic diseases

of epidemic potential.

We shall look at the zoonotic diseases of
epidemic potential in Eastern Africa, the

significance of epi-zoonotics as emerging
diseases, the factors promoting emergence

of epi-zoonotic diseases, the consequences
of epi-zoonotic diseases, and general response

interventions, and then, issues related to
animal welfare.

A zoonosis is a disease or infection which
is naturally transmitted between animals and

humans.

It may occur from an animal to human, or from
human to an animal.

A simpler definition is a disease that normally
infects animals, but can also infect humans.

An epizootic disease is an outbreak (epidemic)
of disease in an animal population.

An enzootic is a disease that is endemic in
animals.

Exotic diseases are those which are imported
into a country in which they do not otherwise

occur.

An example is avian influenza.

Emerging and re-emerging zoonoses are diseases
caused either by totally new or partially

new agents, or by micro-organisms previously
known, but now occurring in places or in species

where the disease was previously unknown.

Examples of this include influenza, ebola,
and SARS.

The priority of zoonotic diseases of epidemic
potential in Eastern Africa include rift valley

fever, influenza A viruses, anthrax, rabies,
ebola and other viral hemorrhaegic fevers,

plague, and trypanosomiasis.

What is the significance of epi-zoonotics
as emerging diseases, especially in Eastern

Africa?

Globally, there have been over 20 new diseases
in the last 30 years.

Over 2/3 of new disease causing agents arise
from wild-life.

Examples include SARS, nipah, H5N1, H1N1.

Domestic animals account for 20% of new zoonoses.

The East and Central Africa Region is a 'hot
spot' for new diseases.

Factors promoting the emergence of epidemic-prone
epi-zoonotic diseases include socio-economic

factors like intensive farming without bio-security
measures, water-supply projects, urbanization,

human population movement, animal movement,
famine, free-range farming systems.

Environmental factors include climate change
(e.g. global warming) and presence of vectors

and/or reservoirs.

Human-related factors include co-infection
with other diseases agents (like HIV and tuberculosis or TB),

lack of knowledge on bio-security measures,
inadequate personal hygiene like sneezing

without covering mouth or not washing hands.

Cultural and behavioural risk factors include
lack of knowledge, food habits, changes in

life-style, human-livestock-wildlife interaction.

These are some of the characteristics of the
human-animal interface that increases the

likelihood of transferring diseases that were
previously not known in humans from animals.

Intense handling of animal products with low
bio-security causing diseases like brucellosis,

anthrax, avian influenza.

Pastoralism and free-range systems, hunting,
gathering, eating game meat and carcasses

predisposing to ebola and anthrax.

Contact with bats predisposing to ebola and
marburg.

Ill cooked products causing salmonellosis
and brucellosis.

Hygiene and rats predisposing to leptospirosis
and hepatitis E.

Free-range poultry and migratory birds predisposing
to avion influenza.

Conservation areas like Ngorongoro and Samburu.
Ill-handling of domestic canines predisposing

to rabies.

Socio-cultural factors including sharing accommodation
with animals, and cross-border risk as well

as gender related risk

What are the consequences of epidemic-prone
epi-zoonotic diseases?

They include:

Socio-economic impacts like reduction in the
level of outputs from animal production, reduction

in perceived or actual output quality, waste
of inputs to animal production, resource costs

of disease prevention and control, negative
animal welfare effects, and international

trade restrictions.

Human health costs including effects or costs
of treatment, effects on the environment,

effects on tourism, effects on rural livelihoods,
political and social disruption, and increased

poverty.

All the public health consequences of epi-zoonoses
include increased deaths, increased illness,

social disruption and panic, collapse of regular
heath care systems, health workers are at

high-risk of contracting the diseases, and
health workers may run away from health units.

Response interventions include farmers should
report incidents to animal and human health

workers, provisional quarantine of affected
areas if necessary, confirming the occurrence

of an outbreak and notifying authorities

Activating the Rapid Response Team including
vets, health workers, leaders, and police,

etc), identifying source of infection and
identifying the severity of the infection

and extent of spread, setting up immediate
control measures

Disposing of dead animals in safe ways, either
by burning them or burying them, quarantining

the sick and suspected and observing general
conditions, stopping movement of animals,

and vaccination where necessary.

In outbreak situations of epi-zoonotic diseases, animal
welfare situations should be taken into consideration.

If they are to be destroyed or killed, animals
should be treated in a humane manner.

Reduce undue pain.

Confine them in a considerate manner.

Thanks for listening.