The first-ever road map to combat animal tuberculosis (bovine TB) and its transmission to humans, referred to as zoonotic TB, was launched at the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Guadalajara, Mexico this week.
Four partners in health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) have joined forces to develop the road map and, address the major health and economic impact of this disease.
How it spreads
Zoonotic TB spreads through consumption of contaminated untreated meat or dairy products from diseased animals. New data released by the WHO estimates that over 140,000 people fall ill and more than 12,000 people lose their lives each year to zoonotic TB — mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia. In India, consumption of raw milk and living in close proximity to cattle has been attributed to high incidence rates of bovine TB in the central Indian populations. According to a paper published in Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health last month, farmers, dairy workers, and zoo keepers were at greater risk.
There is no cure for bovine TB and it threatens animal welfare and those with livelihoods based on livestock. “We have made progress towards ending TB yet, to a large extent, people with zoonotic TB are left behind. The priorities outlined in this road map highlight the need for multi-sectoral action to tackle this neglected form of TB and achieve the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s End TB Strategy,” says Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director of the Global TB Programme at the WHO. “Together we can save lives and secure livelihoods”
Enhance surveillance
Bovine TB is most often communicated to humans through food consumption, usually non-heat-treated dairy products or raw, or improperly cooked meat from diseased animals. Direct transmission from infected animals or animal products to people can also occur. Experts maintain that for countries to achieve the global TB elimination targets, interventions addressing zoonotic TB must be introduced in the national programmes.
Dr. Matthew Stone, OIE Deputy Director General, International Standards and Science, notes that, “Preventing and controlling bovine TB at its animal source is crucial to avoid its transmission to humans, improve food safety and protect the livelihood of many rural communities. To this aim, the implementation of strategies based on international standards and a cross-sectoral approach will enable improved surveillance and diagnosis of the disease in animals and consequently reduce the risks for humans.”
While governments have agreed to TB elimination goals, zoonotic TB continues to remain largely hidden. “We must recognise the interdependence of the health of people and animals in the fight against TB. Specifically, bovine TB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis , affects cattle, threatens people’s livelihoods and results in major economic and trade barriers, as well as posing a major risk to food safety and human health,” says Dr. Berhe Tekola, Director, Animal Production and Health Division, FAO.
vidya.krishnan@thehindu.co.in
