From 4th to 8th March 2014, a delegation of AU-IBAR visited Comoros to finalize and launch a pilot project on surveillance of Tick transmitted diseases.
This project is funded under the VET-GOV program as part of a first batch of pilot projects selected through a call for proposal process, at the end of which 8 proposals were selected, out of 41 submitted. It is a one-year project and its total budget is 150,000 euros.
The VET-GOV programme is a five-year EU-funded continental programme aiming at reinforcing the governance of Veterinary Services in Africa. It is implemented jointly by AU-IBAR, the OIE, FAO and Regional Economic Communities.
Comoros Islands suffer from a very high prevalence of tick transmitted diseases that impact heavily on on animal production, and hence on food security and self-sufficiency for livestock commodities. The importation of live animals to compensate the insufficient supply of local market in food of animal origin, also increases the risk of introducing animal diseases which could threaten public health as well.
This project will establish a surveillance system targeting primarily three major tick borne diseases (Theireliosis, Babesiosis and Cowdriosis) and other prevalent TADs. Thanks to this support, the Union of Comores will establish the epidemiological situation of target diseases, monitor their evolution in the 3 islands and enhance the sanitary inspection of animals and animal products imported into the country.