scholarly journals Structural drivers of vulnerability to zoonotic disease in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vupenyu Dzingirai ◽  
Salome Bukachi ◽  
Melissa Leach ◽  
Lindiwe Mangwanya ◽  
Ian Scoones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
One Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Structural Drivers ◽  
Political Dimensions

This paper argues that addressing the underlying structural drivers of disease vulnerability is essential for a ‘One Health’ approach to tackling zoonotic diseases in Africa. Through three case studies—trypanosomiasis in Zimbabwe, Ebola and Lassa fever in Sierra Leone and Rift Valley fever in Kenya—we show how political interests, commercial investments and conflict and securitization all generate patterns of vulnerability, reshaping the political ecology of disease landscapes, influencing traditional coping mechanisms and affecting health service provision and outbreak responses. A historical, political economy approach reveals patterns of ‘structural violence’ that reinforce inequalities and marginalization of certain groups, increasing disease risks. Addressing the politics of One Health requires analysing trade-offs and conflicts between interests and visions of the future. For all zoonotic diseases economic and political dimensions are ultimately critical and One Health approaches must engage with these factors, and not just end with an ‘anti-political’ focus on institutional and disciplinary collaboration. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

scholarly journals Local disease–ecosystem–livelihood dynamics: reflections from comparative case studies in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Leach ◽  
Bernard Bett ◽  
M. Said ◽  
Salome Bukachi ◽  
Rosemary Sang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
One Health ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Patch Dynamics ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Ecosystem Interactions

This article explores the implications for human health of local interactions between disease, ecosystems and livelihoods. Five interdisciplinary case studies addressed zoonotic diseases in African settings: Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Kenya, human African trypanosomiasis in Zambia and Zimbabwe, Lassa fever in Sierra Leone and henipaviruses in Ghana. Each explored how ecological changes and human–ecosystem interactions affect pathogen dynamics and hence the likelihood of zoonotic spillover and transmission, and how socially differentiated peoples’ interactions with ecosystems and animals affect their exposure to disease. Cross-case analysis highlights how these dynamics vary by ecosystem type, across a range from humid forest to semi-arid savannah; the significance of interacting temporal and spatial scales; and the importance of mosaic and patch dynamics. Ecosystem interactions and services central to different people's livelihoods and well-being include pastoralism and agro-pastoralism, commercial and subsistence crop farming, hunting, collecting food, fuelwood and medicines, and cultural practices. There are synergies, but also tensions and trade-offs, between ecosystem changes that benefit livelihoods and affect disease. Understanding these can inform ‘One Health’ approaches towards managing ecosystems in ways that reduce disease risks and burdens. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

scholarly journals Active Surveillance in the investigation and analysis of RVFin Western and Central Uganda

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Nanfuka ◽  
Milton Bahati ◽  
Eugene Arinaitwe
Keyword(s):  
Rift Valley ◽  
Rift Valley Fever ◽  
One Health ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
The People ◽  
Igm Elisa ◽  
The One ◽  
Western Uganda

ObjectiveTo detect presence of circulating Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFv) in animals of Western and Central Uganda following its confirmation in humans.To establish and communicate reliable information using the one health platformSignificnce:Although in E. Africa RVF was initially detected and known to be a disease endermic in Kenya, the people in Uganda were still hesitating wether the disease is already in existence. Following its first detection in 2016 in Humans there was need to carry out an investigation in the hot spot areas of the human infection to get the real picture and to inform the policy makers for informed decisions.IntroductionRift Valley fiver is viral zoonotic disease which was investigated and reported in Uganda in 20101. For some time now people are not aware whether the disease was still circulating or emerged in animals reared as a result of the inter country trade by the community of the cattle corridor in Uganda, since the last reports in 19682. The increase in the number of disease outbreaks in some parts of central and western Uganda from 2016 to date and the number of human patients investigated, diagnosed and confirmed with RVF by Ministry Of Health (MOH) under the one health program, has placed the disease to be among the top re-emerging diseases in the country3&4 and number 5 of the Multisectoral prioritization of zoonotic diseases in Uganda, 2017 under One Health perspective6.MethodsRift valley Fever was investigated in cattle, goats and sheep of Gomba,Mityana, Kiboga and Kiruhura in Central and Western Uganda. This followed 2 people that had been confirmed with RVF in 20161 Samples were aseptically collected from hot places from 543 victim’s animals including those of the neighbouring areas covering the victims routes of movement plus those areas where people were still sick and where death had reportedly occurred. Samples were then delivered to NADDEC laboratory from where tests were conducted.ResultsSamples were screened using a competition IgG ELISA, then IgM ELISA to capture the recently infected animals. The positive samples from the IgM ELISA were then confirmed using RT-PCR; 169/543 (31%) tested positive to IgG screening ELISA indicating exposure to RVF. The actual infection was found to be 13% (22/169) with IgM ELISA and 3/22 (13.6%) with RT-PCR.ConclusionsZoonotic diseases continue to be a public health burden to the people of Uganda. Considering some people’s behavior of eating the sick and dead animals, has posed a difficult situation to combat the ailment which has resulted in negative socioeconomic impacts, affecting the national policies that range from health security to control of diseases. Uganda has however developed capacity to investigate, test and confirm RVF disease. Since exposure was found in all animal species, detailed active surveillance plan and procedures have been set up to investigate any additional cases in animals to reduce chances of spread to humans and to cub international spread and also to determine the magnitude of exposure.References1 Nabukenya, Investigation and response to Rift Valley Fever and Yellow Fever outbreaks in humans in Uganda, 20162 Nyakarahuka L.prevalence and risk factors of Rift valley in humans and animals from kabale, 20163 Wang LF, Crameri G.Emerging zoonotic viral diseases.Rev Sci Tech Int Epiz.2014;33Institute of Medicine (U.S.), Committee on Achieving Sustainable Global Capacity for surveillance and4 Response to Emerging Diseases of Zoonotic Origin, Keusch G. Sustaining global surveillance and response to emerging zoonotic diseases, 20095 Musa Sekamatte, Vikram K.Multisectoral prioritization of zoonotic diseases in Uganda, 2017, A One Health perspective6 Munyua P, Bitek A, Osoro E, Pieracci EG, Muema J,Mwatondo A,et al, Prioritization of Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya,2015. PLOS ONE. 2016;11:e0161576. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161576 PMID:27557120 

scholarly journals Integrative modelling for One Health: pattern, process and participation

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160164 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Scoones ◽  
K. Jones ◽  
G. Lo Iacono ◽  
D. W. Redding ◽  
A. Wilkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
One Health ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Process Pattern ◽  
Lassa Fever Virus ◽  
To Come ◽  
Health Agenda ◽  
Modelling Approach

This paper argues for an integrative modelling approach for understanding zoonoses disease dynamics, combining process, pattern and participatory models. Each type of modelling provides important insights, but all are limited. Combining these in a ‘3P’ approach offers the opportunity for a productive conversation between modelling efforts, contributing to a ‘One Health’ agenda. The aim is not to come up with a composite model, but seek synergies between perspectives, encouraging cross-disciplinary interactions. We illustrate our argument with cases from Africa, and in particular from our work on Ebola virus and Lassa fever virus. Combining process-based compartmental models with macroecological data offers a spatial perspective on potential disease impacts. However, without insights from the ground, the ‘black box’ of transmission dynamics, so crucial to model assumptions, may not be fully understood. We show how participatory modelling and ethnographic research of Ebola and Lassa fever can reveal social roles, unsafe practices, mobility and movement and temporal changes in livelihoods. Together with longer-term dynamics of change in societies and ecologies, all can be important in explaining disease transmission, and provide important complementary insights to other modelling efforts. An integrative modelling approach therefore can offer help to improve disease control efforts and public health responses. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

scholarly journals Views from many worlds: unsettling categories in interdisciplinary research on endemic zoonotic diseases

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1725) ◽  
pp. 20160170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley MacGregor ◽  
Linda Waldman
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
One Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Many Worlds ◽  
Human Animal

Interdisciplinary research on zoonotic disease has tended to focus on ‘risk’ of disease transmission as a conceptual common denominator. With reference to endemic zoonoses at the livestock–human interface, we argue for considering a broader sweep of disciplinary insights from anthropology and other social sciences in interdisciplinary dialogue, in particular cross-cultural perspectives on human–animal engagement. We consider diverse worldviews where human–animal encounters are perceived of in terms of the kinds of social relations they generate, and the notion of culture is extended to the ‘natural’ world. This has implications for how animals are valued, treated and prioritized. Thinking differently with and about animals and about species' boundaries could enable ways of addressing zoonotic diseases which have closer integration with people's own cultural norms. If we can bring this kind of knowledge into One Health debates, we find ourselves with a multiplicity of worldviews, where bounded categories such as human:animal and nature:culture cannot be assumed. This might in turn influence our scientific ways of seeing our own disciplinary cultures, and generate novel ways of understanding zoonoses and constructing solutions. This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

scholarly journals Rift Valley fever and Brucella spp. in ruminants, Somalia

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Hassan-Kadle ◽  
Aamir M. Osman ◽  
Mohamed A. Shair ◽  
Omar M. Abdi ◽  
Abdulkarim A. Yusuf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rift Valley ◽  
Rift Valley Fever ◽  
One Health ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Serological Evidence ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Female Cattle

Abstract Background Fourteen-years after the last Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus (RVFV) outbreak, Somalia still suffers from preventable transboundary diseases. The tradition of unheated milk consumption and handling of aborted materials poses a public health risk for zoonotic diseases. Limited data are available on RVF and Brucella spp. in Somali people and their animals. Hence, this study has evaluated the occurrence of RVFV and Brucella spp. antibodies in cattle, goats and sheep sera from Afgoye and Jowhar districts of Somalia. Methods Serum samples from 609 ruminants (201 cattle, 203 goats and 205 sheep), were serologically screened for RVF by a commercial cELISA, and Brucella species by modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT) and a commercial iELISA. Results Two out of 609 (0.3 %; 95 %CI: 0.04–1.2 %) ruminants were RVF seropositive, both were female cattle from both districts. Anti-Brucella spp. antibodies were detected in 64/609 (10.5 %; 95 %CI: 8.2–13.2 %) ruminants by mRBPT, which were 39/201 (19.4 %) cattle, 16/203 (7.9 %) goats and 9/205 (4.4 %) sheep. Cattle were 5.2 and 2.8 times more likely to be Brucella-seropositive than sheep (p = 0.000003) and goats (p = 0.001), respectively. When mRBPT-positive samples were tested by iELISA, 29/64 (45.3 %; 95 %CI: 32.8–58.3 %) ruminant sera were positive for Brucella spp. Only 23/39 (58.9 %) cattle sera and 6/16 (37.5 %) goat sera were positive to Brucella spp. by iELISA. Conclusions The present study showed the serological evidence of RVF and brucellosis in ruminants from Afgoye and Jowhar districts of Somalia. Considering the negligence of the zoonotic diseases at the human-animal interface in Somali communities, a One Health approach is needed to protect public health.

Persons Together

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan L. Mittleman
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Jewish Tradition ◽  
The Political ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Market Relations ◽  
The Image Of God

This chapter moves into the political and economic aspects of human nature. Given scarcity and interdependence, what sense has Judaism made of the material well-being necessary for human flourishing? What are Jewish attitudes toward prosperity, market relations, labor, and leisure? What has Judaism had to say about the political dimensions of human nature? If all humans are made in the image of God, what does that original equality imply for political order, authority, and justice? In what kinds of systems can human beings best flourish? It argues that Jewish tradition shows that we act in conformity with our nature when we elevate, improve, and sanctify it. As co-creators of the world with God, we are not just the sport of our biochemistry. We are persons who can select and choose among the traits that comprise our very own natures, cultivating some and weeding out others.

scholarly journals Prioritization of zoonotic diseases of public health significance in Nigeria using the one-health approach

One Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100257
Author(s):  
Chikwe Ihekweazu ◽  
Charles Akataobi Michael ◽  
Patrick M. Nguku ◽  
Ndadilnasiya Endie Waziri ◽  
Abdulrazaq Garba Habib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
One Health ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Public Health Significance ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
The One

scholarly journals Decision Support for the (Inter-)Basin Management of Water Resources Using Integrated Hydro-Economic Modeling

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Gerald Norbert Souza da Silva ◽  
Márcia Maria Guedes Alcoforado de Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Water Transfer ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Study Results

The development of adequate modeling at the basin level to establish public policies has an important role in managing water resources. Hydro-economic models can measure the economic effects of structural and non-structural measures, land and water management, ecosystem services and development needs. Motivated by the need of improving water allocation using economic criteria, in this study, a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) with a hydro-economic optimization model (HEAL system) was developed and used for the identification and analysis of an optimal economic allocation of water resources in a case study: the sub-middle basin of the São Francisco River in Brazil. The developed SDSS (HEAL system) made the economically optimum allocation available to analyze water allocation conflicts and trade-offs. With the aim of providing a tool for integrated economic-hydrological modeling, not only for researchers but also for decision-makers and stakeholders, the HEAL system can support decision-making on the design of regulatory and economic management instruments in practice. The case study results showed, for example, that the marginal benefit function obtained for inter-basin water transfer, can contribute for supporting the design of water pricing and water transfer decisions, during periods of water scarcity, for the well-being in both basins.

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