A new vaccine, designed to protect East African cattle against all major strains of foot and mouth disease, is offering hope to small-scale farmers battling the highly contagious disease.
Foot and mouth disease, or FMD, reduces milk production by up to 80 per cent in affected dairy cattle, costing African producers an estimated US$2.3 billion each year.
According to Nina Henning, project manager team lead at GALVmed, vaccination is currently carried out largely in response to an emergency, rather than to prevent an outbreak, meaning only around five per cent of cattle in Africa have been vaccinated. Henning says the continual evolution of the virus gives rise to new strains, causing case numbers to spike and increasing the risk of spread into new areas.
Funded by the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project is structured as a cost-share that reduces the cost-per-dose for buyers. The process aims to catalyse initial vaccine adoption, which can then be scaled up to increase access and uptake.
He says Brazil’s successful ten-year FMD vaccination efforts and subsequent FMD-free status, offer a model of what is achievable.
Foot And Mouth Disease Vaccine Charity Research Virus
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Innovative new Manchester venue giving out 100 free pints this weekThe next-generation venue opened earlier this month and is already impressing people with its innovative games
Read more »
Innovative nanoparticle therapy offers hope in fighting prostate cancerProstate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men.
Read more »
Shropshire farm celebrates two years of success with innovative secure dog fieldRowton Grange is marking two years of success with its 1-acre Secure Dog Field, providing a haven for dogs from Shropshire and beyond to enjoy off-lead freedom.
Read more »
Innovative bacteria-based therapy shows promise against cancerEven as cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, bacteria-based cancer therapy presents an exciting and innovative treatment option.
Read more »
Huge innovative PlayStation video game event coming to ManchesterThe experience has been created for fans of 'games that have not only captivated players but are celebrated for their breath-taking and immersive soundtracks'
Read more »
Innovative sensor material offers non-invasive cancer diagnosisA research team led by Dr. Ho Sang Jung of the Advanced Bio and Healthcare Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science has developed an innovative sensor material that amplifies the optical signals of cancer metabolites in body fluids (saliva, mucus, urine, etc.
Read more »