In recent years in the pastoral areas of developing countries, One Health is gaining increasing credibility and visibility as an approach that can combine interventions for both human and animals. However, relatively little attention has been given thus far to the environmental health component including of the resource base – rangelands. Continue reading
Category Archives: Agri-Health
A bridge not too far: To prevent pandemics, close the human and animal health divide
Veterinarians as well as wildlife biologists, livestock farmers, and zookeepers remain a largely untapped resource for combatting diseases that threaten people. Continue reading
The good and not-so-good news about the state of COVID-19 vaccine development: A primer from ILRI
Jimmy Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), holds a weekly town hall for the 600-plus staff of the institute as well as staff from many of ILRI partners who are hosted on ILRI campuses in Nairobi, Addis Ababa and elsewhere. In the town hall last week, Vish Nene, co-leader of ILRI’s Animal and Human Health program, made a short presentation on the latest developments in COVID-19 vaccine work. Excerpts and slides from his virtual presentation follow. Continue reading
East African dairy under COVID-19: How is this vibrant sub-sector faring? Join us for a webinar 28 May
East African dairy under COVID-19: A vibrant sub-sector is key to a food-secure future. Join us for a webinar with experts from Land O’Lakes Venture37 | International Livestock Research Institute | Global Dairy Platform | Bain & Company. Hosted by the SEEP Network on 28 May 2020 Continue reading
Africa’s growing risk of diseases that spread from animals to people
In this post, Bernard Bett, Delia Randolph and John McDermott argue that not only are pandemics not over, they may be increasing in frequency; and while most originated in Asia in the past, Africa may be poised to become an important source of so-called ‘zoonotic pathogens’—with its population growth, rapid urbanization and rising global integration offering promising vectors for outbreaks. Continue reading
We need a new approach, or another coronavirus is inevitable
‘Until we start thinking of human and animal health as linked, another coronavirus is inevitable’, warns Jimmy Smith, the International Livestock Research Institute’s (ILRI) director general in an op-ed published 26 February in the Independent. Continue reading
Viral flash points? Poor urban settlements are highly vulnerable to the risk of the new coronavirus
A new guest blog article published yesterday (27 Feb 2020) on the website of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) argues that weak infrastructure would leave urban settlements in low-income countries highly vulnerable should the rapid spread of COVID-19 continue. Continue reading
Two animated shorts on practical steps to improve animal welfare and reduce drug resistance in poor countries
Start this new year (and decade) right. Watch these two little animated films for practical advice on how to prevent both animal suffering and the spread of drug resistance in germs of people and livestock. Continue reading
Antimicrobial Resistance through the eyes of the journalists in Kenya
In the lead up to the World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019 (#WAAW2019), which is celebrated every year in November, the CGIAR AMR Hub at the International Livestock research Institute (ILRI) jointly with Kenya’s ministries of Health and Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation hosted, at the ILRI campus in Nairobi, a media sensitization on raising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) … Continue reading
More vaccination, not antibiotics, needed for Kenyan livestock—Straight talk by Sidai Chair Christie Peacock
An interview with Christie Peacock, founder and chairman of Sidai Africa, Ltd., a Kenyan company that provides livestock services and crop inputs to farmers across the whole of Kenya. Continue reading