Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of economic importance that is endemic in most of the countries in the world including the Asia Pacific Region that continues to result in huge economic losses in livestock production besides human health implications. Besides being occupational hazard for people working with animals such as livestock farmers, veterinarians, abattoir workers, laboratory workers, etc. through direct contacts, the disease can be transmitted indirectly to humans via consumption of non-pasteurised milk, and milk products. Brucellosis can result in economic losses in terms of reduced production due to infertility, abortions, decreased milk production, and costs of prevention, control, and elimination.
To continue actions against this important disease in animals, the WOAH Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific based in Japan organised the virtual workshop jointly with the WOAH Collaborating Centre for Food Safety at Rakuno Gakuen University, Japan, and WOAH Reference Laboratories for Brucellosis based in Thailand, South Korea and Italy to provide a platform for sharing of information on disease updates, progress, and experiences.
A total of 110 participants representing the animal health sectors from 21 Members from the Asia Pacific Region attended the workshop.
The webinar was organised with the objectives to share updates on regional disease situation, progress and challenges in animal brucellosis including aspects of disease surveillance, diagnostics, and control options. The Experts from the WOAH Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres and WOAH HQ made technical presentations on WOAH Standards and Manuals on Brucellosis, situational analysis of brucellosis in Asia and experiences in disease control and challenges in Europe, Italy, South Korea and in Africa. Bhutan shared their experiences on how the government-led test-and-cull method (with compensation mechanism) could successfully control and eliminate brucellosis from the government cattle breeding farms and cattle farms in the villages. Bhutan also highlighted the challenges in terms of sustainability of the test and cull method given the huge financial implications to the government.
Following a busy Q&A session wherein the experts answered and clarified many questions/issues raised by the participants, a group work session was held by dividing the participants into three groups. At the group discussion session, the participants had a free and frank discussion wherein they identified constraints, priority actions and expectations from WOAH and partners to be followed up by all to continue actions against this important disease.
Copies of the presentations are available for viewing through the links in the agenda below.
