Expert wants authority for Ebola,zoonotic diseases

By Juliet Waiswa, Innocent Anguyo & Nelson Kukundakwe

A senior academic at Makerere University department of Biosecurity, Eco-systems and Veterinary Public Health has called for the formation of an authority to lead the fight against the ever-growing threat of zoonotic diseases.

Dr. Clovice Kankya made the remarks on Thursday during a debate on Ebola and other Zoonotic diseases held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a zoonotic disease is one that can be passed between animals and humans and vice-versa.

WHO says zoonotic diseases are caused by all types of pathogenic agents, including bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that zoonotic diseases are very common with scientists estimating that more than six out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals.
 
WHO has identified over 200 zoonotic diseases, although the major ones include Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers, anthrax and influenza.

Since many people interact with animals in their daily lives, Kankya said coming into contact with the saliva, blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal may lead to contraction of these diseases.

Kankya argued that eating or drinking something unsafe such as unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat, or unwashed fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with feces from an infected animal may also cause infection in man.

Kankya therefore said such an authority would establish laboratories and champion research into possible cure, treatment and vaccines for the zoonotic diseases.
 
The authority, Kankya said would bring together a multidisciplinary pool of expertise to ensure a holistic approach to the fight against zoonosis. It would also mobolise resources to fight zoonosis in Uganda.

He noted that Veterinary medics, human medics, communication experts, environmentalists, policy makers, engineers and all other stakeholders would use the authority as a platform to share ideas on fighting the diseases.

He said the Veterinary Public Health department at the Ministry of Health is too light and parochial in scope of expertise to sufficiently address he ever growing threat of zoonotic diseases.

Kankya also said the decision of scores of Ugandan Ebola experts to go and fight the deadly disease in West Africa has left the country exposed and potentially incapable of making a quick response in case of an outbreak.

Dr. Umaru Ssekabira from the Infectious Disease Institute said they have now brought on board Veterinary doctors in the fight against Ebola in order to holistically address the threat of Ebola and zoonosis.

“In the past we have not been involving the veterinary doctors while treating zoonotic disease but we are going to work hand in hand as we manage any outbreak in future,” Ssekabira noted.

Prof Ojok Lonzy of Makerere University said there was need to undertake research into Ebola vaccines and treatment suited to the African conditions, on grounds that recent breakthroughs in the treatment of the disease may not necessarily work well in Africa.