Rabies : the comic book.

 This is a colorful comic book for kids to teach about rabies.

Rabies prevention tips.

1) vaccinate your dogs,cats and monkeys.

2) Do not approach an unknown dog, cat or monkey.

3) Prevent bites and scratches from dog, cats and monkeys.

4) When bitten by a dog,cat or monkey: wash site with soap under running water for 15 mins, clean area of bite with antiseptic solution or alcohol and seek medical attention.

 Get book here and share

#rabies #Lagos #endrabiesnow #book #games.

Gamifying rabies.

 

Did you know that rabies kills one person every 9 minutes?

Did you know that 59,000 people die of rabies worldwide every year?

Did you know that almost half of the victims are children under 15 years of age? 

Did you know that vaccinating 70% of dog population in an area breaks the dog-human cycle of rabies,thus eliminating rabies in such areas?

Did you know that vaccination of your dogs,cats and monkeys is a sure way to eliminate rabies?

Did you know that the fastest way to change a paradigm or introduce a concept that targets kids is by gamifying the concept or creating songs that are interactive?

Did you also know that creating awareness on public health issues can also be accomplished by creating stories, posters, coloring books for kids e.t.c?

Did you also know that when a kid learns something or comes across a story, the story spreads fast?

 Did you know that when you tell one kid a truth all the other kids in the community hears this truth? 

Did you also know that creating public awareness about diseases of public health importance is a collective responsibility?

Did you know that change is a collective effort? so play your part:by vaccinating your pets. Sharing the rabies game board in your network. Ensuring your neighbors are responsible pet owners that vaccinate their pets. 

Lets start now: kick rabies out of #Lagos. #Nigeria  #endrabiesnow

Mission rabies : surveillance is a key strategy for zero by 30

 Surveillance is a key part of our work to protect at-risk communities now, and in the future. This means manning 24-hour emergency hotlines, deploying rabies response teams, and setting up what we call Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM).

This is an intensive surveillance technique whereby our officers actively seek out cases where a human has been bitten by a dog. Instead of waiting for people to report dogs showing signs of rabies, the officers screen cases in hospitals to find the ones most likely to be from rabid animals.

In one month alone, Lyson one of our IBCM officers in Malawi, investigated 12 cases across three districts, seven of which turned out to be rabid animals. One case, in particular, will stay in Lyson's mind for a long time and highlights the direct impact made by our IBCM work.

Lyson was called out to investigate the case of an aggressive dog which had been killed. The postmortem test result confirmed the suspicion that the animal was in fact rabid. While doing contact tracing, Lyson came across a lady who got bitten on her leg and hand by this dog the previous day. Unaware of the risk of rabies or the need for post-exposure vaccinations, she had not sought treatment. After Lyson clearly explained the deadly risks and how she could protect herself, the woman went to the district hospital to receive all five vaccinations.

Two months later, Lyson visited the woman and found her in good health. She was very grateful for the advice she received that day and is aware that this information very likely saved her life. She also promised that she will spread the word about Mission Rabies and our key messages in her village, especially to children, so they all know the crucial steps to take if they are bitten by a dog.

End rabies now: Zero by 30.

 

It is totally unacceptable for anyone to die of rabies: break the cycle, vaccinate your dogs.

59,000 People die every year of rabies.

 Be a f.o.r.c.e, eliminate rabies.

RABIES.

How do HPAI outbreaks occur?

How do HPAI outbreaks occur? Usually with some type of contact with other birds. 

               Common biosecurity failures. 

 “People had some contact, whether wild birds and droppings, feathers or debris, or contact with backyard birds,” Rings explained. “Or it could be a lateral spread within a company where someone was not following procedures. 

Sometimes it isn’t direct, but accidental or indirect contact with birds or their products.” Then people fail to follow biosecurity procedures including the line of separation to divide the production side of a commercial poultry flock from the outside world. “It’s using dedicated farm clothing or footwear,” he continued. 

“Disposable coveralls and plastic boots are a form of dedicated clothing. It’s having inside and outside boots and using those exclusively in each location. “It can be improper house entry procedures like not doing a boot change; not using a proper foot bath, which may be dirty or empty; and not using hand sanitizer and equipment sanitation,” 

Rings said. Keeping HPAI out of a flock also includes monitoring visitors and service people, and making sure everyone follows biosecurity protocols. In the end, biosecurity is everyone’s job. “Every person has a place at the table,” he added. “But growers are the ultimate guardians of their farm. They are on duty 24/7…to prevent and block any disease coming on their farm that would devastate their flock and livelihood.”

HPAI prevention requires ‘buckle-up’ mentality to biosecurity.

 

HPAI prevention requires ‘buckle-up’ mentality to biosecurity.  The only option for poultry farms to prevent an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is 100% adherence to biosecurity rules. 

 “You can be doing 99% of [biosecurity] correctly and somebody does one thing wrong and brings the disease into the farm,” reported Bret Rings, DVM, Cobb-Vantress. “Think of biosecurity as a chain — it is only as strong as the weakest link.” 

 Strengthening biosecurity requires building a culture that makes following protocols second nature for everyone on the farm. “It’s like a seat belt; it is protection that you use and do all the time because you never know when you will need it,” Rings said. “You never know when you will be exposed to HPAI and you need to protect your flock.” 

                Build a biosecurity culture.

 A biosecurity culture must be built into how producers do business every day, Rings explained, during a recent HPAI risk webinar hosted by the University of Arkansas. He recommended using communications and training to help transfer the importance of biosecurity to growers and farm staff: Communications – Biosecurity protocols must be communicated to everyone on the farm, from the grower to hourly employees.

The protocols should be clear, simple and based on scientific data. It’s important for everyone to understand protocols are to be followed consistently and with no exceptions. “You need to find creative ways to share that information, whether by a personal conversation, a one-page document, poster or meeting where you discuss the importance of biosecurity in today’s environment with HPAI taking place,” he said. 

 Training, training, training — In addition, regular training helps build the culture while reinforcing the correct way to follow biosecurity protocols. Rings suggested using small meetings or get-together with farm staff for the training. 

The training also shows staff that biosecurity is a priority. “It comes down to some persuasion and motivation,” he added. “Emphasize to farm workers that biosecurity is of utmost importance. The threat is real; it can happen to anyone, and it does.

The rise of Avian Influenza.

 

So far, 2022 has been a deadly year for the world’s birds. Avian influenza continues to rise, and this is hot on the heels of two years that the U.S. CDC says saw more outbreaks than the previous four years combined. Each outbreak of avian influenza can have huge ramifications for animal and human welfare. And, of course, a devastating impact on the economy and global food security. 

Just a single outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003 cost an estimated 150 million euros and the culling of some 30 million birds. Right now, other countries – like the UK – are facing similar losses. A look at the current spread of avian influenza and the evolving discussion on vaccination. 

  Biosecurity and hygiene is currently the first line of defense against avian influenza in most countries. While this can limit exposure, this is not fool proof as outbreaks grow in size and scope each year. The U.S. CDC has reported that globally “there were more outbreaks reported in 2020-2021 than in the previous four years combined.” What’s more, viruses are cropping up in countries that have been clear of avian influenza for many years – like Canada. 

The CDC reports that, in December 2021, HPAI A (H5N1) viruses were detected in birds in Newfoundland. This is the first identification of this virus in the Americas since June 2015. Vaccines have been considered as a potential control measure against avian influenza, but these are often not widely available or used in many markets. There has been some recent discussion about re-evaluating vaccination though. 

 According to Julien Denormandie the French agriculture minister,There is “no other solution in the long term than to have vaccination.”  Vaccines are often not used due to concerns about trade disruptions. 

In the past, export bans have been enforced on countries with vaccination policies. This is due to concerns such as not being able to differentiate vaccinated animals from infected animals, which occurs if a vaccine is not a 'DIVA vaccine'. DIVA vaccines and diagnostics :DIVA stands for Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals. For Avian influenza, this can be achieved by using a vaccine based on a different strain (e.g. H5N2) than the current field strain (e.g. H5N1) and using a serological test that can differentiate between vaccine-induced antibodies (e.g. against N2) and antibodies against the field virus (N1).

  Current thoughts on whether there may be scope for vaccination in the future:

 The loss of millions of birds is a significant welfare issue that requires considering all avenues of prevention. 

 The Poultry Veterinary Study Group of the EU published a paper in October calling for an ‘open-minded evaluation’ of vaccines, saying it would ‘offer better protection to poultry'. 

 The French minister of agriculture sees vaccination as a long-term, viable solution in the face of rising losses. Though it may be too late to mitigate the impact of the current outbreaks, vaccination could become a future prevention measure alongside alongside biosecurity and other tools. 

 The info graphic below shows the impact of Avian Influenza in 2021.