Emerging Diseases of Africa and the Middle East

Abstract

The term “emerging diseases” has been used recently to refer to different scenarios, all of which indicate changes in the dynamics of disease in the population. Of the OIE List A diseases, major changes have been experienced with rinderpest, peste des petit ruminants (PPR), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), foot‐and‐mouth disease, African swine fever, lumpy skin disease, and Rift Valley fever. Rinderpest represents a success story of the 1990s, thanks to the programs of the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC). The situation has changed from that of the 1980s when rinderpest was widespread throughout most of Tropical Africa and the Middle East. PPR is a disease that has become of increasing importance throughout Tropical Africa and the Middle East. CBPP, which had previously been reduced to sporadic incidence within endemic areas, invaded new areas, causing heavy mortality. African swine fever has extended to West Africa and to Madagascar, in both regions resulting in heavy losses. Climatic changes in both East and West Africa were associated with an upsurge of Rift Valley fever. Deficiencies in national veterinary services have contributed to failures in early detection and response; in many regions investigation and diagnosis services have deteriorated. The continuing structural adjustment program for national veterinary services will need to take into account their transformation from providers of services (e.g., vaccinations, medicines) to inspection and quality assurance services. Surveillance, early warning, and disease emergency preparedness will need to be pursued more vigorously in Africa and the Middle East as vital components of national veterinary services.

Review: Lumpy Skin Disease: An Emerging Threat to Europe, the Middle East and Asia

“…The only African countries still considered free of the disease are Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. It has been suggested that, while extending its geographical distribution, the virus has increased in pathogenicity causing extensive epidemics and pandemics on the African continent with sporadic cases occurring during inter‐epidemic years (Rweyemamu et al., 2000).…”

Capripoxviruses: An Emerging Worldwide Threat to Sheep, Goats and Cattle

“…The spread of capripoxvirus into new areas is predominantly associated with the increase of illegal animal movement through trade (Domenech et al., 2006) as well as inadequate or breakdown of veterinary services (Rweyemamu et al., 2000). Countries free of capripoxvirus usually have in place legislation based on OIE recommendations that attempt to prevent the trans‐boundary spread of production‐limiting diseases, but increasingly these are becoming more difficult to enforce, including on the border of the European Union.…”

Predicting distribution ofAedes aegyptiandCulex pipienscomplex, potential vectors of Rift Valley fever virus in relation to disease epidemics in East Africa

“…RVF virus is passed from generation to generation of aedine mosquitoes trans-ovarially, accounting for the continued presence of the virus in enzootic foci (2–4). Outbreaks have been reported across much of sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Madagascar (5, 6). In East Africa, regular epidemics of RVF disease have been reported since the 1930s (7).…”