Socio-economic impact of foot and mouth disease in wildlife- livestock interface and non-interface of Tanzania
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Date
2015
Journal Title
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Abstract
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is still one of the major trans-boundary animal diseases (TADs) in Tanzania. The
disease is an obstacle to development of the livestock sector because it adversely affect livestock production and
trade of animals and animal products. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Serengeti ecosystem (Wildlife-
livestock Interface) and in the Central part of Tanzania (Non-interface) with the aim of assessing the social and
economic impacts of FMD among livestock keepers in the two ecosystems. Forty households were selected, 10 from
each district and to each household, a structured questionnaire was administered. The results showed that, the social
impacts due to, FMD outbreaks include food insecurity (85.0%), failure to meet education costs (90.0%) and
medical costs (77.5%). The observed economic impacts of FMD were losses associated with treatment costs
(87.5%), milk productivity (85.0%), draught power (80.0%), livestock market loss (67.5), lower weight gain
(60.0%), lower fertility (37.5%), abortion (35.0%), death of animals (25.0%) and vaccine supply cost (2.5%).
Statistically, there were no significant differences in observed impacts of FMD among livestock keepers from
wildlife-livestock interface and those from the non-interface. The study found no significant difference in opinion
among livestock keepers from wildlife-livestock interface and non-interface areas as well as among study districts
on foot-and mouth-disease impacts. Higher percentages in case responses on social impacts and economic losses
indicated magnitude of the problem and feelings of livestock keepers about FMD. However, lower percentage in
case response on vaccine supply cost indicated that there is no control of FMD by vaccination.
Description
World’s Veterinary Journal,World Vet J, 5(3): 31-35
Keywords
Socio-economic impact, FMD, Interface, Non-Interface, Tanzania