Thumbnail Image

Strengthening Regional Capacities to Address Negative Impacts of COVID-19 on the Animal Health Sector in Africa - TCP/RAF/3801

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 9

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 with its quick worldwide spread, which turned it into a global public health threat with over 6.9 million deaths, the impact that infectious diseases of animal origin can exert on global health and development with severe and long-term negative effects has become rapidly visible. The need to strengthen capacities to prevent, detect, and manage the likely transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at animal, human and ecosystem interface turned into a global priority. Coronaviruses, which are known to infect mammals including different livestock species, are usually very specific to their host, but in the case of SARS-CoV-2, it is suspected to have originated in bats before spreading from human to human. While no evidence of circulation among livestock was collected, potential risks of spreading of SARS-CoV-2 through livestock could not be denied in the onset of the emergency. As of September 2023, the African continent had registered over 9.5 million reported cases and over 175 000 deaths, adding an additional burden on countries already suffering from poverty, unemployment, malnutrition and hunger. The animal health sector was assessed as being particularly vulnerable and requiring additional support to strengthen national prevention and response systems.

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Strengthening Regional Capacities to Address COVID-19 Impacts on Animal Health Sector in East and Southeast Asia - TCP/RAS/3801 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In December 2019, China reported cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause in Wuhan City. The causative agent was later attributed to a novel coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2. The virus quickly spread and became a global health threat, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020 and as a pandemic in March 2020. The outbreak was believed to be associated with a wet market in Wuhan where seafood and wild animals were sold. This was corroborated by environmental samples from the market that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 was suspected to have originated in bats and spread among humans, yet the transmission through livestock was believed possible. Some companion animals, such as dogs, cats and ferrets, have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after close contact with infected humans. However, it is unclear whether these animals played a role in the spread of the virus among humans. In light of the One Health approach, there was a need to strengthen the capacities of animal health services to detect, prevent and manage the likely transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the animal–human interface. The Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is well positioned to provide technical and operational support, in collaboration with FAO headquarters and ECTAD country teams, to address the impact of COVID-19 on food security, livelihoods related to livestock and the animal–human interface.
  • Thumbnail Image
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Evaluation of the project “Supporting the Global Health Security Agenda to address Zoonotic Disease and Animal Health in Africa”
    Evaluation brief
    2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The project started with a narrow focus on Ebola in Africa, expanding in scope during its implementation (2015–2023) by including more countries and addressing other diseases as well. This led to a budget increase from USD 49 million in 2015 to USD 189 million in 2023. A follow-up initiative, the Global Health Security Programme (GHSP) has already been approved with a budget of USD 250 million. Based on a shared vision between USAID and FAO, these efforts represent one of the most important areas of work within FAO’s One Health approach.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.