Physical examination of cows was conducted for case identification and possible intervention. Photo: ©FAO/David Tsokar

Abuja - Nigeria - Livelihoods and food security in low and mid-level income countries have continued to  be affected by Transboundary Animal Diseases (TAD), with losses in productivity, utility and revenue experienced during outbreaks due to inadequate capacity of animal health workers in surveillance and diseases monitoring.

With funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), in collaboration with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI),organized a five day training from 19 to 24 August 2024 on foot and mouth diseases (FMD) in Vom, Jos South, Plateau State, where NVRI is also based.

 A total of 25 veterinary and laboratory personnel participated  in FMD surveillance and diagnosis, including from national and states ministries of agriculture as well as relevant institutions. They received training on disease recognition, outbreak investigation and reporting as part of a progressive pathway to reduce the incidence in the country.

During the opening ceremony at the institute, the Director, Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Dr. Columba Vakuru underscored the importance of the training as it’s practical and integrated framework seeks to strengthen FMD surveillance through the capacity development of frontline veterinarians, laboratory personnel and central level epidemiologists.

Dr. Vakuru also noted that “with adequate capacities of the participants strengthened in field investigation, disease reporting, sample collection and submission, tracking the incidences of TADs in Nigeria would become easier”.

Besides the objective to provide practical training on FMD field outbreak investigation, sample collection and shipment procedures to designated laboratories, the training also seeks to provide guidance on disease prevention and control including farm-biosecurity, vaccines and vaccination. Furthermore it provides an overview on the circulating FMD virus serotypes in the country and region as well as highlights the significance of disease reporting and sample submission.

The Country Team Leader of ECTAD, Dr. Otto Vianney Muhinda, in his opening remarks explained that the capacity building training aims to ensure that diseases surveillance is improved, and participants can effectively apply knowledge gained at the end of the training to advance regional and global food security through sustainable livestock production.

The Executive Director of NVRI emphasized that the skills acquired by the frontline veterinarians at the training would play a vital role in “protecting our livestock from the disease and ultimately contribute to the economic stability as well as food security of the country”.

The livestock sector is integral to the Nigerian economy. Besides the employment it provides, the country has the third largest population of cattle in Africa, with the Nigerian livestock industry valued at about N30 trillion (equivalent to close to USD 19 billion).

FMD is the most contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. It is distinguished by vesicular discharges from the mouth, foot and udder and are linked to fever, lameness, salivation and gauntness.

Notable among the training modules were FMD clinical recognition, postmortem findings and differential diagnosis, its treatment, prevention and control; important consideration in outbreak investigation and handling; on-farm biosafety and biosecurity; and practical field visits to livestock farms to conduct investigation on FMD suspected cases among others.

Related links

https://www.woah.org/app/uploads/2021/12/the-global-foot-and-mouth-disease-control-strategy.pdf 

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