Socioeconomic Consequences of BTB
This is yet another critical aspect of bovine and zoonotic TB in Uganda that has not been fully explored. Socio-anthropological and socio-epidemiological factors, such as rural livelihoods and microenvironments in the context of the local communities, are key factors fuelling the emergence of infectious diseases such as BTB (Farmer 1996; Hudelson 1996).
Since community beliefs, societal norms, values, myths, and perceptions are drivers of the spread of BTB, there is more that needs to be understood about the impact of BTB in terms of income lost due to slaughterhouse condemnation or rejection of cattle or animals during cultural ceremonies such as marriage, funerals, and other social events. It has been emphasized that management of emerging diseases needs to be dynamic, systematic, and critical, with a focus on society, culture, and economy (Farmer 1996). In a report from the UCC, for example, the role of food of animal origin was ranked high, and communities were aware that consuming raw animal products such as meat and milk increases the risk of contracting zoonotic TB and other infections. Nonetheless, they still do it, as it was part of their culture (Kankya et al. 2011). Therefore, bovine and zoonotic TB control efforts focusing exclusively on individuals without involving the communities may not yield the desired results.
Wildlife is one of the major concerns of the farming communities in Uganda, as a number of wild animal species are considered to be potential reservoirs of BTB and other mycobacterial pathogens. A study conducted on mycobacterial infections (Kankya et al. 2011) gave insights into the community’s perception of their perceived role in the risk that they pose for the transmission of mycobacterial disease in Uganda. A 50-year-old key informant expressed the opinion that:
Wild animals feed on fresh food and fruits like mangoes in our garden, leaving mucus and saliva. Animals such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons feed on bananas, maize, or fruit. This therefore is likely to result in transmission of infections to our community members... Tuli bubi enu Musawu (we are badly off here, Doctor).
The ever-shifting human-livestock-wildlife interface requires constant vigilance by communities to prevent wildlife from invading and destroying their crops and other produce and introducing zoonotic diseases (Kankya et al. 2010).
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