Yemen experience on Communication During the RVF Outbreak 2000/2001

Transcription

1 Yemen experience on Communication During the RVF Outbreak 2000/2001

2 First Foci In Wadi Mowr Calf died 10/9 (AboHarbah) Tem. Discharge from mouth and rectum Abortion in Cattle (AboHarbah) Some calves & Lambs died 12/9 (Mahel Abed) Abortion in deferent Stages of pregnancy (Mahel Abed) (Mahel Mana a) 19/9 12 goats Aborted Out of sheep aborted Out of 200 Fetus were black Farmer had some signs - Flu like signs -High Tem. -Lose Vision -Conjunctivitis

3 Samples collection: The Surveillance teams covered all villages and reacted with any single aborted animal. The samples were collected and sent to the Laboratory for testing. All details were recorded on the RADISCON epidemiological disease investigation forms. Thereafter the sera were collected as a part of National RVF Surveillance Programme in all areas of the outbreak zone of the Tihamah and tested at the CVL.

4 Abortions and Deaths during the RVF Outbreak (September 2000 to March 2001 Species Abortions Deaths Sheep Goats Cattle Camel Total

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6 Action taken following the declaration of RVF An operation room was established for controlling the RVF disease with cooperation with Ministry of Health and all related ministries and authorities were represented including Information Ministry. Stop animal movement from and into infected areas, and between none infected Districts/Governorates. Ban slaughtering in the infected area. Stop importing live animals. Spraying the infected areas by insecticide. Active surveillance in the whole country with clear case definition (death, Abortion) Four Field operation Centers: Al- Hodeidah, Al-Zuhrah, Abs and Zabid.

7 Action taken Count. Coordination of activities between MoA and MoH Mobile Surveillance teams - standardized form - serologic testing - treatment/referral of ill patient Health education/public awareness, disease recognition, vector control, and risk factor reduction. Donor support: NUMRU-3 FAO WHO Human disease confirmed in 16 districts most cases occurred along coastal plain communities adjacent to major wadis Animal disease - cross sectional surveys reveal evidence of RVF transmission Economical effect: As a new disease for Yemen the reaction from all actors was very exaggerated by the media locally, regionally and internationaly Public stopped to consume the meat, milk and other animal products The disease had a dramatic effect on the trade of animals within Yemen and also in the region This dramatically effect the income of the farmers as most of the population in Yemen as rural country relay on animals as a main source for the generating income.

8 Communication During the Outbreak We had two approaches: Health education/ Public awareness: Daily information through TV, Radio and newspapers Seminars including TV, Radio, schools and mosques Brochures, posters and leaflets Health education/ Farmers awareness : Field visits to the villages by vets teams and direct communication Specific radio programmes Brochures, posters and leaflets in the live animal markets, village schools. These two approaches had an essential role in rising the awareness and played a main role in overcoming the crisis in that time.

9 Development of surveillance system and flow of information Development of Disease Active Surveillance Activities Creation of the Communication and Information Department within the DG of Animal Health & Vet Quarantine Improvement of Disease Laboratory Diagnostic Capacities Enhanced Quarantine and Border Security to strengthen overland, Sea and airborne entry points with the objective to reduce the legal and illegal entry of infectious viruses,

10 Flow of Information and Samples Villages Farm/LBM Recognizing diseases / importance of public awareness Village volunteer (Uzla) Case definition and recognition, collecting- storing- transporting samples, writing reports and GPS Districts Governorates/Regions DGAH-MAI District Surv. Center Governorate and Regional Surv. Centers Epidem. Commun. Deprts Regional Lab Central Vet Lab Routine disease investigation Supervise the Dist. Centers/ Assist HQ./ Quick Diagnosis in selected centers/ Prepare and transmit daily and weekly reports to HQ/ Store and analyze data if needed Receives and analyzes samples and data Mapping locations and results Ensuring feedback and Daily reporting Reporting to stake holders (decision makers) Supervises field surveillance and monitoring activities/ perform field/ trace back investigations/ with governorate staff

11 The areas covered by the surveillance teams Pink color financed from DGAH budget & white color funded by local projects