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Bushmeat
is a popular delicacy in parts of Africa AFP
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A global programme to
investigate diseases that jump from animals to humans has been launched in
Kenya. The
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), says it has become necessary to
invest in research into viruses that originate from animals.
BBC
Africa Live report continues:
These
diseases account for more than three quarters of emerging infections which
affect many people across the world, it added.
The
US Agency for International Development says it has set aside more than
US$80m (£55m) to support the initiative.
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Health
workers battled to contain the Ebola outbreak in three West African states Getty
Images
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Ebola,
the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – MERS and Avian flu and SARS are
just a few of the diseases that have infected and killed many people in recent
years.
They
all infect animals first, before moving on to people.
And
yet experts say there has been very little investment in animal health
research.
Ebola,
the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – MERS and Avian flu and SARS are
just a few of the diseases that have infected and killed many people in recent
years.
They
all infect animals first, before moving on to people.
And
yet experts say there has been very little investment in animal health
research.
The programme
to prevent such diseases from spreading from animals will now be implemented in
21 African countries.
The global coordinator of
the FAO's Emerging Pandemic Threats programme, Subhash Morzaria, said globalization
and the commercial production of meat for consumption have made it easier for
viruses found in animals to spread across the world.
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