Situation Report: Increase in goat mortality Lofa County

Working Draft 0.2  Preliminary Findings 

Situation Report 

Concern: Infectious Disease Outbreak in Ruminants (goats and sheep)

Date: June 23, 2015

Location: Lofa County, Liberia

On June 21, 2015 reports of an increase in goat mortality were brought to attention by Animal Healthcare Workers within Lofa County, Liberia. Currently it is believed that as many as 700 goats have died within two days. A confirmed diagnosis has not yet been established, but based on clinical signs and seasonality it is believed that this may be an outbreak of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR).  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is aware of this increase in mortality and is working on providing ELISA test kits to officials within Lofa County to aid in obtaining a proper diagnosis.

Severity: Lethal, Infectious among ruminants

Zoonotic Threat: None Observed So Far, Low

Preliminary Diagnosis by Symptoms and Environmental Conditions:  Peste des petits ruminants (PPR)

Confirmation by Lab:  None yet, No Animal Labs in Liberia at the Current Time

Rule Out:  Rift Valley Fever, Anthrax, Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, Foot and Mouth Disease, Other Emerging Disease

Potential Interventions for Epidemic Management: 

Quarantine Animals in Affected Areas Cost: $0

PPR Vaccine (10,000 units) for Ring Vaccination Cost: $2,000 for vaccine, $50,000 for campaign

Challenges:

Establishing proper diagnosis

Maintain cold chain

Recruit qualified local workers

Infection control (especially for animal handlers, animal health workers and vaccinators)

Recruit project lead

Establish agreements with Ministry of Agriculture

Getting vaccine through customs

Gaining compliance with district and local leadership

Gaining compliance with animal owners and animal handlers

Policy implications 

Food security 

Fear of additional infectious disease outbreak in the post-Ebola period

Political resistance

Social unrest, under conditions of food insecurity 

Communities trending toward greater vulnerability 

Economic impact on smallholder farmers

Broader implications

Assess mission critical functions in the affected and at risk communities

Community engagement for quarantine 

Maintain community resilience in affected Resilience Capacity Zones

Ministry of Health engagement 

District leadership engagement

Associated Organizations:

FAO 

The Animal Health Department of FAO is aware of the increase in goat mortality within Lofa County, Liberia.  Working in collaboration with IAEA, a shipment of ELISA test kits have been arranged for distribution within Lofa County to assist local officials with diagnostic assessment.

Ministry of Agriculture, Gov of Liberia

LEAF (local smallholder farmer association) 

US DOD 

UNICEF 

Global Health Response and Resilience Alliance

Vets International 

Veterinarians Without Borders

Air Bridge

Customs, Government of Liberia