Concrete Steps Toward Setting an Agenda for the Control of Bovine and Zoonotic TB in Africa

A paradigm shift is required to address the challenge of BTB and its zoonotic burden on vulnerable human populations in Africa. To help achieve this, a concrete roadmap of implementable actions will be needed using multidisciplinary and interdisciplin­ary approaches that include governments, politics, education, health, and various interest groups within a practical national and international framework (Fig.

1. Improved surveillance

2. Development of novel diagnostic tools

3. Coordinated research

4. Disease control in animals

5. Targeting key populations

6. Food safety

7. Raising awareness and engaging stakeholders

Fig. 4.1 Specific steps required for controlling bovine and zoonotic TB in Africa using a “One Health” approach

8. Developing policies and guidelines

9. Joint human/animal interventions

10. Commitment and funding by government and international organizations.

Veterinarians, physicians, sociologists, epidemiologists, geographers, public health experts, policy makers, and particularly livestock workers should be included. On the whole, the benefit accrued must be for all with the goal of controlling and reducing BTB and zTB to the barest minimum in Africa. In order to make progress, the One Health framework and principles must therefore be taken into consideration.

4.6