AFENET Features

Uganda - As part of strengthening early disease detection and response in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), AFENET participated and supported the veterinary civil action plan (VETCAP) training that took place 15 – 24 April 2013 in Luwero district, Uganda. The two weeks training targeted community based animal health workers (CBAHWs), Uganda people defense forces (UPDF) and Village Health teams (VHTs). The training which was organized by the United States of American - Africa Command in Djibout, anchored on the one health approach bringing together the lowest cadre animal and human health service providers in the area to address community problems. A total of 20 Community Based Animal Health Workers (CBAHWs) and 20 VHTs drawn from various sub counties in the district were trained in various public health aspects and participated in activities such as:

On 19 April 2013, the team participated in a radio talk show on Central Broadcasting Services radio to discuss issues on one health and zoonotic diseases with a wider audience.

The AFENET team comprised of Dr. Benard Ngago (Epidemiologist and Senior Veterinary Officer in MAAIF/ Namutumba district) and Dr Herbert Kazoora (Epidemiologist).

AFENET held a one hour radio talk show on 19 April 2013 on central broadcasting services station in Kampala under the theme; zoonotic diseases, sources, prevention, control and public health action. The talk show crowned up a recent Veterinary Civil Action Plan (VETCAP) training that took place 15 – 24 April 2013 in Luwero district, Uganda. The two weeks training targeted community based animal health workers (CBAHWs), Uganda people defense forces (UPDF) and Village Health teams (VHTs). The training was organized by the United States of American - Africa Command in Djibout.

The World Health Organisation has shared a report on the detection of three cases of human infection with a novel influenza A(H7N9) virus (hereafter, H7N9) in Shanghai and the province of Anhui.

Please follow the link to find the report.

http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/influenza_h7n9/ChinaH7N9JointMissionReport2013.pdf

 We would like to inform you that updated interim surveillance recommendations for human infection with novel coronavirus have been posted on the WHO website:

or download it here;

Download WHO Surveillance Recommendations

Tanzania - Clarah M. Adel, a Cohort V resident of the Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program carried out an investigation of a suspected outbreak of rotavirus in Tanga region of Tanzania from 24 – 30 April 2013.

 The objectives of the investigation were to: verify reported cases and investigate new cases to establish existence of the outbreak, determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify risk factors, high risk groups and possible sources of contamination, and assess the local response capacity and to implement on-site control measures.