The Rome-based United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) has announced the
launch of the first-ever roadmap to combat animal tuberculosis
(bovine TB) and its transmission to humans, referred to as
zoonotic TB.
This is most often passed through consumption of contaminated
untreated meat or dairy products from diseased animals.
The roadmap calls for close collaboration between those
working to improve human and animal health.
It is built on a One Health approach, addressing health risks
across sectors.
Four partners, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International
Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), have
joined forces to develop the roadmap.
New data released by the World Health Organization (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 the
African and the South-East Asian regions.
"We have made progress towards ending TB, yet to a large
extent people with zoonotic TB are left behind. The priorities
outlined in this roadmap highlight the need for multisectoral
action to tackle this neglected form of TB and achieve the
targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and WHO's End TB
Strategy," said Mario Raviglione, Director of the WHO Global TB
Programme.
Zoonotic TB is largely hidden as the advanced laboratory
tools are required to diagnose it are frequently unavailable.
The disease is resistant to pyrazinamide - one of the
standard first-line medications used to treat TB.
Patients are therefore often misdiagnosed and may receive
ineffective treatment.
"We must recognise the interdependence of the health of
people and animals in the fight against TB," said Berhe Tekola,
Director of the FAO Animal Production and Health Division.
"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".
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