ZOONOTIC DISEASES

Livestock can also transmit diseases to humans... RVF, Brucellosis, Anthrax...

Remember those afternoon 2 - 3 hours Agriculture classes in Primary School? Wow... I used to be in class because I had no option. I saw no use in them and maybe it explains my average performance in the subject. "What ever is the use of Agriculture classes?" I thought... Now, many years later, I am learning the importance of Agriculture. When they say that Agriculture is the back bone of the country, I think they should have added that it is the back bone of the whole world!!! Let me explain.

Today I interviewed a human health Doctor at the Zoonotic Diseases Unit which is a combined department in the Ministry of Livestock and the Ministry of Public Health. Last week I interviewed the animal health doctor in the same department. What got me writing this blog is actually an onlookers question to me after the interview was over... He said to me, "What exactly is your profession?" This onlooker is a colleague working with FAO on the logistics department and had heard me saying that I am a marketer and a communications professional. But to him, the way I conducted the interview seemed like I was in the Animal Health Department. Well, that is not the case. I usually have to do a lot of research on a project before heading out to the field film and document a project.

Film crew with FAO team and Doctors in various  animal health departments.

Zoonotic diseases are the diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. Scientists may say that the reverse is also true but my main focus was on those risk factors that spread animal diseases to humans. What made me feel like I was getting back to an adult agriculture class was the disease called Rift Valley Fever, RVF... I knew I had learnt about this disease before, many many many years ago in an Agriculture class. I was not a fan. That being said, in the past week of filming, which is still in progress I have got to learn a lot about livestock and human diseases. Some diseases if not vaccinated against can be fatal. Rabies for instance should be treated before the symptoms begin to present. Rabies is a zoonotic disease usually spread by dogs.

Brucellosis, the "milk disease" - as referred to by the Masaai community down in Kajiado, is also one such disease. It is transmitted through milk and especially in areas where milk is not pasteurized or properly boiled before consumption. I have worked with farmers in Kajiado, Kisii, Naivasha and Suswa. I knew that livestock could be a sign of wealth but I did not know that it had so much value like  I got to learn. It was such a mind opener! A farmer in Nyakoe down in Kisii gets up to 20 litres of milk per day and supplies it to the local dairy. She educates her children and has improved her life so much even her unemployed husband is so proud of her. She only has 3 cows in a zero grazing unit which she has kept clean and protects the cows with Livestock Protective Net Fencing, LPNF, which is basically a black net, about 1metre in height impregnated with insecticide. In the tsetse fly infested area, keeping these insects away from livestock makes them calm and healthier thereby producing a lot of milk and good meat as well.

Filming the focus study groups from FAO workshop in Kajiado

It is such simple practices like the LPNF and hygiene that comprise of economically sustainable projects. The health of these animals is very important in a country and the world as a whole because it's publics are the consumers of livestock products. When I visited the top farm in Naivasha, a government owned farm with sentinel herding system, I got to meet with vets working for the Kenyan government. The farm only has the small ruminants(goats and sheep) and they do not get any vaccinations. They are closely monitored to see the risk of other livestock getting infections from the environment. Here the Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) was what was most prone. Anthrax is also a common livestock disease that can be transmitted to humans.

As usual I got to meet scholars in different fields for instance, insectology , communications, animal health and farming. There is always that one person who stands out, and for this trip, it was the District Vet Officer in Naivasha. Such a proud man he was! Immediately after the introductions were made, he was quick to give us the history of Naivasha town. He said that Naivasha is the FACE OF KENYA as it represents all the Kenyan ethnicities. He said it was an enterprising community and it has a lot of entrepreneurs... He also said that the best genetic material that is used for breeding in Kenya comes from Naivasha and he mentioned the freshers and heifers. The first successful Atrificial Insermination in Kenya was first conducted  in Naivasha. He spoke of the historic site; Olduvai Gauge and he did not fail to mention the racism at it's worst also in the rift valley region! He advised the "young" me to read Books like "White Mischief" and "Happy Valley" I will be sure to read them...

Enlightened,

Nekoye