Latest news with #diseasecontrol
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Biosecurity is vital for SA's successful agricultural growth and export strategy
South Africa needs to bolster its biosecurity to control the spread of disease in livestock and poultry. Animal and plant health is the bedrock of a thriving agricultural industry and its export strategy. The success of South Africa's agricultural export strategy over the past few decades, which has seen the value of exports grow from $2.4 billion in 2001 to $13.7 billion in 2024, speaks to the strength of the controls implemented over that period. But there are now weaknesses. In recent years, South Africa has experienced frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and African swine fever. These suggest two problems: first, the growing weaknesses in the country's biosecurity controls, and the potential effect of climate change, which can lead to frequent disease outbreaks as a result of extreme events. These problems are not unique to South Africa. We have seen outbreaks of As a country with ambitions to expand exports of red meat and other livestock products, South Africa will need a robust approach to control disease spread and surveillance for potential risks. South Africa should also continue reviving vaccine production in various entities, such as the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), Moreover, the The key is that the sector puts a more focused effort in this area and leverages both academic and private sector capabilities to ensure that South Africa is in a better position regarding animal disease. Anecdotally, it also appears that the changing climate is leading to more disease outbreaks than in the past, which again calls for South Africa to devote more resources to addressing the problem. There needs to be sufficient capital for the regulatory bodies monitoring imports, so that swift actions can be taken to minimise risks when some of the trading partners are affected. Indeed, regulators must always make such decisions independently, after carefully assessing the risks. Moreover, the biosecurity efforts should not be limited to livestock and poultry. While these industries have faced frequent issues, plant health is another area requiring consistent monitoring. There must be continuous surveillance on crops and various fruits. As with livestock, collaborative efforts with academia and the private sector in these areas must continue. There are already partnerships with scientists from some commodity associations and the government. Such collaborations should be nurtured as they remain central to South Africa's agricultural success. Another vital dimension is the agility in registering vaccines, agrochemicals and genetics. The changing environment means that the innovation of scientists and breeders must also be faster. But that will not be the end. The regulators must still satisfy themselves independently of any agrochemical, vaccine, or genetically improved plant. This process also requires an even greater amount of human capital to handle the anticipated increase in requests and demand in the new environment. Ultimately, the success of South Africa's agriculture in delivering a national food-secure country that we enjoy, with nearly a million jobs in farming, and exports of about $13.7 billion, all hinge on biosecurity. Therefore, this area must continue to be a priority, not only in words but also in efforts. The responsibilities lie with both the private sector and the government. Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
NHK
22-05-2025
- Health
- NHK
Ex-WHO regional director speaks on new pandemic agreement
Omi Shigeru, the man who ran Japan's response to COVID-19, gives insight on the World Health Organization's new deal to track and mitigate diseases. He says it's a good step but only the first step.
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Health
- Reuters
US CDC accepts recommendations for chikungunya vaccines
May 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has accepted its advisory panel's recommendations on vaccines for chikungunya, a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. The recommendations were approved on May 13, 2025, and are now the official recommendations of the CDC. The final recommendations will assist physicians in choosing appropriate vaccines for patients and will also guide insurance coverage policies in the U.S. The health agency is also expected to decide on recommendations for vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and meningococcal disease, a bacterial infection. However, details regarding the approval status of the RSV and meningococcal vaccine recommendations are currently not available on the CDC's website. Both Bavarian Nordic ( opens new tab and Valneva ( opens new tab make vaccines for chikungunya.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
West Nile virus detected in Britain's mosquitoes for first time
The West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time, health officials have announced. Fragments of the virus, which belongs a group that can cause dengue and yellow fever, were identified in Aedes vexans mosquitos found in wetlands on the River Idle near Retford, Nottinghamshire. There have been no confirmed human cases of the virus in Britain and the current risk to the public is 'very low', the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. But it added that 'disease surveillance and control activities are being enhanced in light of the findings'. The warming climate has meant different species of mosquitoes, and the viruses they carry, are increasingly able to survive on the British Isles, raising the prospect of other deadly diseases such as malaria becoming commonplace in the future. The virus is already commonly found across Africa, Asia and the Americas, and has expanded in recent years to more northerly and western parts of Europe. Since 2000, seven cases have been identified in Britain from those who have contracted the virus abroad. Infects the brain and nervous system Most people will experience no or minimal flu-like symptoms, according to the Government's guidance, but around one in 150 cases can be severe. As well as a fever, headache, and fatigue, other symptoms can include rashes on the limbs, neck or trunk, as well as swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, it can infect the brain and nervous system, presenting as meningitis, encephalitis (brain swelling), or a very sudden onset of weakness 'with high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation or confusion, severe muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma'. New advice has been issued to doctors and healthcare professionals to test for the virus in cases where a cause of brain swelling or inflammation could not be found. Those aged over 50 years old or with underlying conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure or diabetes, were at greatest risk, while fatality rates were highest in the over 70s. Early-warning system Dr Meera Chand, the deputy director for travel health and emerging infections at UKHSA, said the finding was 'not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe'. She added that 'research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance'. The West Nile virus is usually found in birds and circulates through bird-biting mosquitoes but can be transmitted to horses as well as humans. Dr Arran Folly, an arbovirologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the lead of the Vector-Borne RADAR project, tasked with identifying new threats, said it was 'part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas'. 'Our primary focus is to understand how viruses move into the country and how they are transmitted. Combined this can help us identify areas that may be at increased risk of outbreaks,' he said.
Bloomberg
09-05-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
US Measles Cases Surpass 1,000 as Texas Infection Rate Slows
The US has confirmed 1,001 measles cases since the outbreak began in January, even as the virus' spread in the hardest-hit state has slowed. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 66 new measles cases on Friday, a 7% increase from a week prior. Cases have now been confirmed in 30 states.
