News

AgHealth blog

New review provides framework for studying food systems to address food safety and nutrition

There is a need for better understanding of how food systems operate in order to effectively address food safety and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, says a new review paper. The review published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (Apr 2021) proposes that countries and...

AgHealth blog

Experts call for increased investment in One Health to reduce the burden of neglected zoonoses

One Health is a concept that recognizes that the health of people is linked to the health of animals and their shared environment. A One Health approach in preventing and controlling diseases therefore involves the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines and sectors. This approach is...

AgHealth blog

Nairobi is rapidly losing its green spaces: this could open the door to more diseases

Hundreds of trees have been felled along Nairobi’s Uhuru and Waiyaki highways to make space for a new expressway. CELINE CLERY/AFP via Getty Images Eric Fèvre , University of Liverpool and James Hassell , Yale University There’s been widespread concern in Kenya over the shrinking of green spaces in...

AgHealth blog

Mapping the risk of livestock anthrax in Kenya helps identify disease hotspots to improve prevention and control

Developing risk maps for endemic livestock diseases is important for effective disease prevention and control, particularly in resource-limited countries. For endemic and easily diagnosed diseases such as anthrax, a useful approach involves analysis and mapping of historical data to identify...

AgHealth blog

Experts call for policies and better data to mitigate antimicrobial resistance and zoonoses in intensive livestock production

The intensification of livestock production calls for the development of contextually relevant policy frameworks that mitigate potential human health risks such as antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases, a new expert review paper says. The review by scientists from the University of...

AgHealth blog

New study investigates the governance structure of the Nairobi pork value chain and its impact on food safety

A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (February 2021) has documented the governance structure of the Nairobi pork value chain and the challenges faced by traders and how these impact on food safety. The pork food system in Nairobi is a growing livestock sub-sector which serves as...

AgHealth blog

New collaborative Global Burden of Animal Diseases program launched

Animal health leaders and researchers from the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) program have secured US$ 7 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to roll out a framework on measuring animal health burdens and their...

AgHealth blog

Experts call for global One Health platform to consolidate evidence on actions to tackle antimicrobial resistance

The World Health Organization has declared that antimicrobial resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. It requires urgent multisectoral action in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Improving evidence for action is crucial to tackle this global...

AgHealth blog

Lancet Countdown 2020 report calls for governments to align global COVID-19 recovery with response to climate change

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change represent converging challenges to which no continent, country or community is immune. Aligning the global recovery from COVID-19 with our response to climate change offers a triple win: protect public health, promote a sustainable economy and preserve our...

AgHealth blog

Flattening the curve on foodborne illness and its costs in Africa

Food safety has never featured prominently on Africa’s development agenda. When it is an issue, typically the focus has been on high-value food items produced for export, while food safety in domestic markets has been largely neglected, both by governments and development partners. This must change...

AgHealth blog

One Health in action: Research by ILRI and partners improves the health of people, animals and the environment

The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought into sharp focus the interconnectedness of people, animals and the environment and how this can contribute to the spread of disease. One Health is a concept that recognizes that the health and well-being of people is intricately linked...

AgHealth blog

Community-based training on milk hygiene improves knowledge, attitudes and practices of women pastoralists in Borana, Ethiopia

Milk and milk products are essential in the diets of the Borana pastoral community in Ethiopia. However, traditional handling and processing of dairy products using basic equipment and infrastructure coupled with a preference for raw milk consumption pose potential health risks to consumers. A new...