Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Preparing for the Long Haul: Taking an Integrated Approach to Human and Animal
Health
Animal Health: Vanguard Defence
With potentially catastrophic human losses, it is easy to forget that avian influenza is
principally an animal disease and its effective prevention lies in the domain of animal
health. Given that the causative viral strains in all three major influenza pandemics
in the 20th century originated from animals and the staggering economic damages
from livestock-disease outbreaks, a 'global system of animal health protection is
a global public good' (otte et al. 2004, 15; see also Fao and oIe 2005a). Most
countries cannot handle alone the costs of prevention and control of transboundary
animal diseases. this implies a need for collectively agreed, funded, and managed
responses (otte et al. 2004). In effect, humanity's first line of defence against avian
influenza rests with responsible farming practices—which is a global responsibility.
Containment through Agricultural Reform
the wHo has concluded that fundamental changes in agricultural practices may well
be the only viable long-term solution to stop avian influenza (WHO 2005). Outbreaks
in rural areas in southeast asia are the main source of increased human exposure,
where live poultry markets are considered the 'missing link in the epidemiology of
influenza' and asymptomatic domestic ducks are a 'reservoir of disease' (Fao, oIe,
and wHo 2005,1 6; Fao and oIe 2005a, 17). 14 although costly and controversial,
the necessary measures must address the high-risk practices related to poultry farming
and marketing, including live bird markets and farm hygiene (Fao and oIe 2005a).
regulating (and, ultimately, reducing) the prevalence of duck and chicken farming
is the most effective strategy to deny the virus access to its human hosts. Farming
reform must simultaneously provide an alternative source of protein, income, and
employment through rural development, education, and financial aid. this underlines
the role of national governments in monitoring, educating, and enforcing—and of the
international community, including civil society organisations—in underwriting
these efforts.
aquatic viruses are more likely to spread to domestic animals—and then
humans—in china than anywhere else in the world (Garrett 2005a). one cause
is the country's severe ecological disruption. another is its particular agricultural
system (where raising chickens, ducks, and pigs together in tiny backyards has
greatly increased the risk of infection), as is the interface of economic development
and poor sanitation. china's rising gross domestic product (GDP) has increased
the taste of its 1.3 billion people for meat; as such, its growing chicken industry
(with more than 13 billion birds) is starting to rival U.S. farms in scale, but it lags
behind in hygienic standards (Garrett 2005a). beijing's partner governments need to
secure its cooperation and support its domestic awareness-raising programmes, but
transnational civil society networks equally need to aid their chinese counterparts
in creating grassroots organisations capable of launching local plans to sensitise
china's large farming community to the risks of avian influenza.
 
 
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