President Jakaya M, Kikwete says that " I support them ", when he was introduced the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare {UDAW} Campaign in TVA Conference/ exhbition on 29 Nov 2007 at VIC Arusha.
So this is the begining of Animal Welfare Movement in Tanzania
TAPO Logo
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Activists call for justice on animal’s rights
Tanzania joined the international community in marking the World Farm Animal Day on Monday by reviewing efforts being taken to protect animals.
This year’s theme of the celebration was ”Compassionate to Animals Peace to Human beings, ” says a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam by the Tanzania Animals Protection Organisation, (TAPO).
According to TAPO Chairman, Yohana Kashililah the day is dedicated to exposing, mourning and memorialising the needless suffering and death of 50 billion innocent, feeling animals in factory farms, slaughterhouses, transport systems, people’s houses and any where else.
The Day has been organised since 1983 by non-profit public interest organisation based in Washington D.C., USA.
”WFAD activities include vigils, marches, leafleting, tabling and exhibiting more dramatic events include street theatre, cage-ins and video rigs,” notes the statement.
The broad support for WFAD, says the statement, reflects a deep and widespread public concern with the excesses of animal agriculture.
”Many believe that as long as animals are killed for food, they are owed a humane treatment during their short lives. Consumers are concerned about meat safety and are switching to plant-based alternatives,” says the statement.
Animal activists use the day to send a message of justice and compassion around the world for animals.
”We believe that Animals as living creatures,are entitled to legal protection, moral, and ethical consideration, and have value beyond economic measurement,” says the statement.
Writer: The Guardian
This year’s theme of the celebration was ”Compassionate to Animals Peace to Human beings, ” says a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam by the Tanzania Animals Protection Organisation, (TAPO).
According to TAPO Chairman, Yohana Kashililah the day is dedicated to exposing, mourning and memorialising the needless suffering and death of 50 billion innocent, feeling animals in factory farms, slaughterhouses, transport systems, people’s houses and any where else.
The Day has been organised since 1983 by non-profit public interest organisation based in Washington D.C., USA.
”WFAD activities include vigils, marches, leafleting, tabling and exhibiting more dramatic events include street theatre, cage-ins and video rigs,” notes the statement.
The broad support for WFAD, says the statement, reflects a deep and widespread public concern with the excesses of animal agriculture.
”Many believe that as long as animals are killed for food, they are owed a humane treatment during their short lives. Consumers are concerned about meat safety and are switching to plant-based alternatives,” says the statement.
Animal activists use the day to send a message of justice and compassion around the world for animals.
”We believe that Animals as living creatures,are entitled to legal protection, moral, and ethical consideration, and have value beyond economic measurement,” says the statement.
Writer: The Guardian
Monday, August 13, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
TAPO POLICIES
POLICY OF ORGANIZATION
1. Our Beliefs
We believe that animals as living creatures are entitle to legal protection, moral and ethical consideration and have value beyond economic measurements
2. Mission; To protect all animals from Tortured, Abused, Cruelty, Diseases and Killings
3. Vision; All animals shall be respected as living being like human being
4. Aims; shall be to foster and promote the compassionate to animals, improvement and developments of any matter concerning the protection of animals, understanding and appreciation of the animals among the people of mainland of Tanzania without gating profit.
5. Objectives
1. To promote respect and compassion for Animals through our activities, Campaigns, Public and school educational programmed.
2. To develop and deliver practical advises on the prevention and control of noticeable and endemic diseases, in Tanzania livestock’s and other Animals.
3. To transform the way Animals are treated and perceived by human.
4. To make enforcement of existing Animals laws, and anti- poaching campaigns.
5. To build animal homes, shelters. Sanctuary.
6. To prevent unwanted and overpopulations Animals and Birds through our Neutering and outreach programmed.
7. To see condition in Animal Auction marts, zoos, poultry farms, Animal breeders and People’s houses
8. To provide wildlife conservation and humane education in school and public.
9. To see condition in Animal Auction marts, zoos, poultry farms, Animal breeders and People’s houses
Definition; "Animal" means all vertebrates and invertebrates other than human beings on the basis that they are capable of feeling pain.
“Animal welfare” means, concern for the well-being of an individual animal’s physical, mental and naturalness that include mitigation of avoidable suffering, injury, pain, fear, distress or stress resulting from unnatural behaviour while kept or used for work, sport, companionship, research or food
General principle
The ethical basis for TAPO’s policies is that it looks beyond the conservation of species to the welfares of individual animals. It is TAPO’s belief that each individual has an intrinsic value and should be respected and protected.
Animals have biologically determined instincts interest and natures, and can experience pain, thus TAPO believes that animals have the right to live their lives free from avoidable suffering at the hand of humans, rather than be used be simply as “ raw materials” for the benefit of mankind. Indeed, TAPO believes that it is the duty of human to provide for the welfare of other species.
TAPO believes that all animals kept by, or under the control of humans must be kept in circumstances appropriate to their species, further, where the physiological and behavioural needs of species cannot be met, the species must not be kept by man.
TAPO believes that where the welfares of an animal are under human control is in question, and then the animal must be given the benefit of any doubt. Furthermore, the difference purposes for which animals are used must be regularly re- evaluated.
The welfare of an animal can be described as good if the individual is fit, healthy and free from suffering
TAPO assesses the welfares of animals using five freedoms
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom from fear and distress
5. Freedom to express normal behaviour
These represent a useful ‘checklist’ to quickly identify situations which compromise good animal welfare- that is, any situation that cause fear, pain, discomfort, injury, disease or behavioural distress.
Welfare is a consideration only to living animals- the method of killing animals is critical as it can often cause extreme pain and distress before death intervenes, rather than an instant humane kill.
Protecting animals involves the prevention of unnecessary suffering, ensuring a good quality of life or a humane death. The key difference between conservation and animal welfare is that conservation focuses on species, population and habitats, where as animal welfare focuses on the individual animal.
6. HUMANE KILLING
6.1 Humane slaughter
TAPO is opposed to inhumane method of killing notwithstanding religious dogma and ethnic custom. An animal must be either killed instantly or instantaneously rendered insensible to pain death supervenes.
TAPO recognises that animal of all species must be killed from time to time and demands that when this is necessary it be performed humanely.
Handling of animal prior to killing must also be humane and as stress free as possible. Electric prods or goads must not be used and pre-killing procedure must be considered an integral part of the killing process.
Killing by euthanasia must be done when
· The destructive of diseased, injured, depilated animals which cannot be cured and whose infection involves permanent and serious disability.
· Accident.
The method of killing will vary according to species and circumstances. Some procedures regularly used include cutting the neck of animal without stunning, mechanically operated instrument, instrument stunning by electricity. All method must satisfy the same basic criteria such as
· Death without panic, pain or distress
· Instant unconsciousness followed by rapid death without regaining consciousness
· Reliability for both single or large numbers
· Simplicity and minimal maintenance
· Minimal detrimental impact on operators or observers
The skill of operator is vital for the humane killing of animal and they must have appropriate training in;
· Animal handling
· Selection of best killing method
· Application of killing method
· Maintenance of equipment
7. WORKING ANIMALS
TAPO believes that working animals must be treated with consideration and must be given adequate shelter, care, food and water. Any condition that may impair their welfare must be treated promptly, and if necessary they must not be worked again until they are fit. They must not be overworked or overloaded, nor must they be forced to work through ill treatment
All working animals shall be provided accommodation, care and attention that take account of its physiological and behavioural needs including appropriate food and water, shelter, exercise and companionship. Also working animals shall be ensured of the veterinary health and maintenance needs of the animals including as necessary for the species, regular health and fitness checks, regular grooming, farriery treatment for interval and external parasite.
All working animals must be provided full proper harnessing materials for loading and carts pulling, whereby the axle and bearing must be maintained to be easy for animal to pull without all cart and load weight goes to an animal.
8. COMPANION ANIMAL
TAPO approves of the keeping of companion animals only when there is full personal commitment to the welfare of animals. The animals must always be provided with shelter, exercise, care, food and water appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs.
TAPO is opposed in principle to all mutilation on companion animals carried out for non-therapeutic reason. It also condemns selective breeding in a search for certain external features that affects the health and welfares of the animals
9. TRANSPORTATION OF ANIMALS
TAPO is opposed to a method of transportation of animal that causes unnecessary stress, pain or suffering. TAPO will only accept the transportation of animal in vehicle especially designed for the needs of the species carried
9.1 Transportation of Food Animals
Because of the inevitable suffering associated with the transport of animal, TAPO supports the humane slaughter of food animals as near as possible to the point of production. Transportation by sea for food animals destined for slaughter should be forbidden except where it is necessary to reach the nearest slaughterhouse.
No animal, which is ill or unfit, should be allowed to travel. In addition, proper selection of stock must take place to remove ill or unfit animal. Selected stock should be prepared to help withstanding the rigors of transport, and the vehicles or vessel should be specifically designed for carriage of the particular species involved
All drivers of livestock’s and other animals should be trained both in necessary during techniques and the general care of the animal in their charge, whereby vehicles and their fitting shall be designed, constructed, maintained and operated so as.
· Avoid injury of suffering to ensure the safety of the animals, they shall be free of any sharp edges or projection
· Protect the animals from inclement weather.
· Preventing the animals escaping or falling out
· Have a floor which is ant-slip and sufficient strong to bear the animals collective weight
· Provide access to the animals to enables them to be inspected and cared for as and necessary.
· Have food and water
Where the loading of animals must be carried in humane manner without beating, and packing shall be carried to ensure that the animals are able to turn round, to seat and standing freely without pushing each others
Transportation of poultry should be in a humane manner, whereby TAPO oppose the transportation of chickens and other birds through the following ways
· Chickens and other birds tighten together their legs on the bicycles, roof of vehicles or in carts.
· Carriage of chickens and other birds to their wings or legs for the head to point downward.
· Overloading of chickens and other birds in the local made basket {matenga} like stone.
· Transportation of chicken and other birds in the boot of the regional buses
During the journey the animals must be given food, water and veterinary care throughout the journey and the end of the journey the animal must be unloaded in humane manner.
9.2 Export of live Food Animals
TAPO is opposed to the export of live food animals for immediate slaughter or further fattened and advocates the adoption of chilled and frozen meat-only trade. TAPO will work to pressure Tanzania government to achieve the conversion of the live export trade to chilled and frozen meat-only trade.
10. WILD ANIMAL
TAPO is in principle opposed to the killing of wild animals or the infliction of suffering upon them. This includes taking and killings of wild animals for the purpose of spot.
TAPO is absolutely opposed to taking and killing wild animals for purpose not essential to humans or the welfare of the animals, particularly when they do not pose a threat to the safety and security of humans.
In circumstance where it is deemed necessary to control wild or stray animal population, or animal considered to be pests, then TAPO urges that to be achieved without the infliction of avoidable suffering.
TAPO consider that an effective method should be used to avoid the need continually to remove or kill animal fertility control or other non-lethal methods should be used wherever possible rather than” catch and kill” system.
TAPO is opposed to the use, confinement, exhibition or performance of animals for commercial gain/or human entertainment. Where the taking and /or keeping of wild animals is still permitted, TAPO believes that this should be strictly limited under licence and controlled at the highest possible humane level.
11. FARM ANIMALS
TAPO advocates that method used all stage of farm anima husbandry must be developed so as to prevent avoidable suffering. Farm animals must be provided with shelter, exercise, food, water and care in a manner appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. TAPO is opposed to any method of husbandry that does not full fill these criteria such as,
· Keep tethered in building pens, cages or the like.
· To cause any unnecessary pain, suffering or distress to or abandon an animals
· Not providing for the manner in which species or categories of animals are to be kept including the manner in which animals shall be tied or tethered, and the manner in which animals shall be segregated according to age, sex or species.
12. ANIMAL WELFARE EDUCATION
Animal welfare education {AWE} is a process, which promote knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes related to our involvement in the lives of animals, the effects this has on animals ability to satisfy their needs and responsibility Place on us. TAPO support that providing animal welfares education to the people will reduce animal suffering and enhance welfare.
TAPO agree that the best way to keep the world better place to live is teaching humane education to the students, whereby humane education {HE} is a broad discipline that encompass all forms of education about social justice and citizenship, environmental issues, the welfare of animals and their care. HE is unique in that it recognises the interdependent of all living things.
Though humane education children’s attitudes and critical thinking skills are developed in order to become more compassionate and to respect everyone, their own family, their community and those from different cultures.
Humane educaton provides an opportunity for children to develop a sense of awe and responsibility for the natural world and their environment and for the animal in which share it.
TAPO insists that Humane education shall be introducing in education curriculum of all school found in Mainland of the United republic of Tanzania.
Revised September 2006
1. Our Beliefs
We believe that animals as living creatures are entitle to legal protection, moral and ethical consideration and have value beyond economic measurements
2. Mission; To protect all animals from Tortured, Abused, Cruelty, Diseases and Killings
3. Vision; All animals shall be respected as living being like human being
4. Aims; shall be to foster and promote the compassionate to animals, improvement and developments of any matter concerning the protection of animals, understanding and appreciation of the animals among the people of mainland of Tanzania without gating profit.
5. Objectives
1. To promote respect and compassion for Animals through our activities, Campaigns, Public and school educational programmed.
2. To develop and deliver practical advises on the prevention and control of noticeable and endemic diseases, in Tanzania livestock’s and other Animals.
3. To transform the way Animals are treated and perceived by human.
4. To make enforcement of existing Animals laws, and anti- poaching campaigns.
5. To build animal homes, shelters. Sanctuary.
6. To prevent unwanted and overpopulations Animals and Birds through our Neutering and outreach programmed.
7. To see condition in Animal Auction marts, zoos, poultry farms, Animal breeders and People’s houses
8. To provide wildlife conservation and humane education in school and public.
9. To see condition in Animal Auction marts, zoos, poultry farms, Animal breeders and People’s houses
Definition; "Animal" means all vertebrates and invertebrates other than human beings on the basis that they are capable of feeling pain.
“Animal welfare” means, concern for the well-being of an individual animal’s physical, mental and naturalness that include mitigation of avoidable suffering, injury, pain, fear, distress or stress resulting from unnatural behaviour while kept or used for work, sport, companionship, research or food
General principle
The ethical basis for TAPO’s policies is that it looks beyond the conservation of species to the welfares of individual animals. It is TAPO’s belief that each individual has an intrinsic value and should be respected and protected.
Animals have biologically determined instincts interest and natures, and can experience pain, thus TAPO believes that animals have the right to live their lives free from avoidable suffering at the hand of humans, rather than be used be simply as “ raw materials” for the benefit of mankind. Indeed, TAPO believes that it is the duty of human to provide for the welfare of other species.
TAPO believes that all animals kept by, or under the control of humans must be kept in circumstances appropriate to their species, further, where the physiological and behavioural needs of species cannot be met, the species must not be kept by man.
TAPO believes that where the welfares of an animal are under human control is in question, and then the animal must be given the benefit of any doubt. Furthermore, the difference purposes for which animals are used must be regularly re- evaluated.
The welfare of an animal can be described as good if the individual is fit, healthy and free from suffering
TAPO assesses the welfares of animals using five freedoms
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
4. Freedom from fear and distress
5. Freedom to express normal behaviour
These represent a useful ‘checklist’ to quickly identify situations which compromise good animal welfare- that is, any situation that cause fear, pain, discomfort, injury, disease or behavioural distress.
Welfare is a consideration only to living animals- the method of killing animals is critical as it can often cause extreme pain and distress before death intervenes, rather than an instant humane kill.
Protecting animals involves the prevention of unnecessary suffering, ensuring a good quality of life or a humane death. The key difference between conservation and animal welfare is that conservation focuses on species, population and habitats, where as animal welfare focuses on the individual animal.
6. HUMANE KILLING
6.1 Humane slaughter
TAPO is opposed to inhumane method of killing notwithstanding religious dogma and ethnic custom. An animal must be either killed instantly or instantaneously rendered insensible to pain death supervenes.
TAPO recognises that animal of all species must be killed from time to time and demands that when this is necessary it be performed humanely.
Handling of animal prior to killing must also be humane and as stress free as possible. Electric prods or goads must not be used and pre-killing procedure must be considered an integral part of the killing process.
Killing by euthanasia must be done when
· The destructive of diseased, injured, depilated animals which cannot be cured and whose infection involves permanent and serious disability.
· Accident.
The method of killing will vary according to species and circumstances. Some procedures regularly used include cutting the neck of animal without stunning, mechanically operated instrument, instrument stunning by electricity. All method must satisfy the same basic criteria such as
· Death without panic, pain or distress
· Instant unconsciousness followed by rapid death without regaining consciousness
· Reliability for both single or large numbers
· Simplicity and minimal maintenance
· Minimal detrimental impact on operators or observers
The skill of operator is vital for the humane killing of animal and they must have appropriate training in;
· Animal handling
· Selection of best killing method
· Application of killing method
· Maintenance of equipment
7. WORKING ANIMALS
TAPO believes that working animals must be treated with consideration and must be given adequate shelter, care, food and water. Any condition that may impair their welfare must be treated promptly, and if necessary they must not be worked again until they are fit. They must not be overworked or overloaded, nor must they be forced to work through ill treatment
All working animals shall be provided accommodation, care and attention that take account of its physiological and behavioural needs including appropriate food and water, shelter, exercise and companionship. Also working animals shall be ensured of the veterinary health and maintenance needs of the animals including as necessary for the species, regular health and fitness checks, regular grooming, farriery treatment for interval and external parasite.
All working animals must be provided full proper harnessing materials for loading and carts pulling, whereby the axle and bearing must be maintained to be easy for animal to pull without all cart and load weight goes to an animal.
8. COMPANION ANIMAL
TAPO approves of the keeping of companion animals only when there is full personal commitment to the welfare of animals. The animals must always be provided with shelter, exercise, care, food and water appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs.
TAPO is opposed in principle to all mutilation on companion animals carried out for non-therapeutic reason. It also condemns selective breeding in a search for certain external features that affects the health and welfares of the animals
9. TRANSPORTATION OF ANIMALS
TAPO is opposed to a method of transportation of animal that causes unnecessary stress, pain or suffering. TAPO will only accept the transportation of animal in vehicle especially designed for the needs of the species carried
9.1 Transportation of Food Animals
Because of the inevitable suffering associated with the transport of animal, TAPO supports the humane slaughter of food animals as near as possible to the point of production. Transportation by sea for food animals destined for slaughter should be forbidden except where it is necessary to reach the nearest slaughterhouse.
No animal, which is ill or unfit, should be allowed to travel. In addition, proper selection of stock must take place to remove ill or unfit animal. Selected stock should be prepared to help withstanding the rigors of transport, and the vehicles or vessel should be specifically designed for carriage of the particular species involved
All drivers of livestock’s and other animals should be trained both in necessary during techniques and the general care of the animal in their charge, whereby vehicles and their fitting shall be designed, constructed, maintained and operated so as.
· Avoid injury of suffering to ensure the safety of the animals, they shall be free of any sharp edges or projection
· Protect the animals from inclement weather.
· Preventing the animals escaping or falling out
· Have a floor which is ant-slip and sufficient strong to bear the animals collective weight
· Provide access to the animals to enables them to be inspected and cared for as and necessary.
· Have food and water
Where the loading of animals must be carried in humane manner without beating, and packing shall be carried to ensure that the animals are able to turn round, to seat and standing freely without pushing each others
Transportation of poultry should be in a humane manner, whereby TAPO oppose the transportation of chickens and other birds through the following ways
· Chickens and other birds tighten together their legs on the bicycles, roof of vehicles or in carts.
· Carriage of chickens and other birds to their wings or legs for the head to point downward.
· Overloading of chickens and other birds in the local made basket {matenga} like stone.
· Transportation of chicken and other birds in the boot of the regional buses
During the journey the animals must be given food, water and veterinary care throughout the journey and the end of the journey the animal must be unloaded in humane manner.
9.2 Export of live Food Animals
TAPO is opposed to the export of live food animals for immediate slaughter or further fattened and advocates the adoption of chilled and frozen meat-only trade. TAPO will work to pressure Tanzania government to achieve the conversion of the live export trade to chilled and frozen meat-only trade.
10. WILD ANIMAL
TAPO is in principle opposed to the killing of wild animals or the infliction of suffering upon them. This includes taking and killings of wild animals for the purpose of spot.
TAPO is absolutely opposed to taking and killing wild animals for purpose not essential to humans or the welfare of the animals, particularly when they do not pose a threat to the safety and security of humans.
In circumstance where it is deemed necessary to control wild or stray animal population, or animal considered to be pests, then TAPO urges that to be achieved without the infliction of avoidable suffering.
TAPO consider that an effective method should be used to avoid the need continually to remove or kill animal fertility control or other non-lethal methods should be used wherever possible rather than” catch and kill” system.
TAPO is opposed to the use, confinement, exhibition or performance of animals for commercial gain/or human entertainment. Where the taking and /or keeping of wild animals is still permitted, TAPO believes that this should be strictly limited under licence and controlled at the highest possible humane level.
11. FARM ANIMALS
TAPO advocates that method used all stage of farm anima husbandry must be developed so as to prevent avoidable suffering. Farm animals must be provided with shelter, exercise, food, water and care in a manner appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. TAPO is opposed to any method of husbandry that does not full fill these criteria such as,
· Keep tethered in building pens, cages or the like.
· To cause any unnecessary pain, suffering or distress to or abandon an animals
· Not providing for the manner in which species or categories of animals are to be kept including the manner in which animals shall be tied or tethered, and the manner in which animals shall be segregated according to age, sex or species.
12. ANIMAL WELFARE EDUCATION
Animal welfare education {AWE} is a process, which promote knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes related to our involvement in the lives of animals, the effects this has on animals ability to satisfy their needs and responsibility Place on us. TAPO support that providing animal welfares education to the people will reduce animal suffering and enhance welfare.
TAPO agree that the best way to keep the world better place to live is teaching humane education to the students, whereby humane education {HE} is a broad discipline that encompass all forms of education about social justice and citizenship, environmental issues, the welfare of animals and their care. HE is unique in that it recognises the interdependent of all living things.
Though humane education children’s attitudes and critical thinking skills are developed in order to become more compassionate and to respect everyone, their own family, their community and those from different cultures.
Humane educaton provides an opportunity for children to develop a sense of awe and responsibility for the natural world and their environment and for the animal in which share it.
TAPO insists that Humane education shall be introducing in education curriculum of all school found in Mainland of the United republic of Tanzania.
Revised September 2006
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Support Kahama Donkeys
These animals are lifelines for the most of the Kahama Residents please support us to help them
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Uchafuzi wa Mazingira
Hii ni sehemu moja ya jiji la arusha ambako binadamu na viumbe wengine wanatumia maji katika mto huu, lakini kumekuwa na uchafuzi mkubwa wa mazingira katika mto huu ambapo takataka nyingi hutupwa na kuachwa hapo kwa muda mrefu ambazo nyingi zia madhara kwa viumbe hai wengi hasa wanyama kwa kumeza bidhaa za plastiki na kuwasababishia vifo, tujali mazingira tujali wanyama na viumbe hai wote kwa kuweka Arusha safi
Monday, April 02, 2007
Rift Valley Fever in Tanzania
Rift Valley fever {RVF}
OVERVIEW Rift Valley Fever (RVF), is a zoonosis (a disease which primarily affects animals, but occasionally causes disease in humans). It may cause severe disease in both animals and humans leading to high morbidity and mortality. The death of RVF-infected livestock often leads to substantial economic losses.
Since 1930, when the virus was first isolated during an investigation into an epidemic amongst sheep on a farm in the Rift Valley of Kenya, there have been outbreaks in sub-Saharan and North Africa. In 1997-98, there was a major outbreak in Kenya and Somalia. In September 2000, RVF was for the first time reported outside of the African Continent. Cases were confirmed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This virgin-soil epidemic in the Arabian Peninsula raises the threat of expansion into other parts of Asia and Europe.
Many different species of mosquitoes are vectors for the RVF virus. There is, therefore, a potential for epizootics (epidemics amongst animals) and associated human epidemics following the introduction of the virus into a new area where these vectors are present. This has been demonstrated in the past and remains a concern.
RVF VIRUS
The virus, which causes RVF, is a member of the Phlebovirus genus, one of the five genera in the family Bunyaviridae.
RVF VECTORS
• RVF virus is primarily spread amongst animals by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• A wide variety of mosquito species may act as the vector for transmission of the RVF virus; in different regions a different species of mosquito may prove to be the predominant vector. In addition, the various vector species play differing roles in sustaining transmission of the virus.
• Aedes mosquitoes, for example, may acquire the virus from feeding on infected animals, and are capable of transovarial transmission (transmission of the virus from infected female mosquitoes to offspring via eggs), so new generations of infected mosquitoes may hatch from their eggs.
This provides a durable mechanism for maintaining the virus in nature, as the eggs of these mosquitoes may survive for periods of up to several years in dry conditions. During periods of inundation of larval habitats by rainfall, for example, in the rainy season, the eggs will hatch, and the mosquito population will increase and spread the virus to the animals on which they feed.
Previously uninfected Aedes and other species of mosquitoes will feed on infected, viraemic (virus circulating in the bloodstream) animals and thus amplify and perpetuate the outbreak by transmitting the virus to the animals on which they subsequently feed.
RVF VIRUS NON-HUMAN HOSTS
• Many types of animals may be infected with RVF, and disease may be severe in many domesticated animals including cattle, sheep, camels and goats. Sheep appear to be more susceptible than cattle and goats are less susceptible.
• Exotic breeds, which have been recently introduced into an endemic area, fare worse than breeds long adapted to local conditions.
• Animals of different ages also differ in their susceptibility to severe illness: over 90% of lambs infected with RVF die, whereas mortality amongst adult sheep can be as low as 10%.
• The abortion rate amongst pregnant, infected ewes is almost 100%. An epizootic (epidemic animal disease) of RVF is usually first manifested as a wave of unexplained abortions amongst livestock. This may signal the start of an epidemic.
TRANSMISSION TO HUMANS
• During epizootics, people may become infected with RVF either by being bitten by infected mosquitoes, or through contact with the blood, other body fluids or organs of infected animals.
• Such contact may occur during the care or slaughtering of infected animals, or possibly from the ingestion of raw milk.
• The virus may infect humans through inoculation (e.g., if the skin is broken, or through a wound from an infected knife), or through inhalation as an aerosol. The aerosol mode of transmission has also led to infection in laboratory workers
CLINICAL FEATURES
• The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of RVF varies from two to six days.
• There then follows an influenza-like illness, with sudden onset of fever, headache, myalgia (muscle pain) and backache. Some patients also develop neck stiffness, photophobia (the patient finds exposure to light uncomfortable) and vomiting; in these patients the disease, in the early stages, may be mistaken for meningitis.
• The symptoms of RVF usually last from four to seven days, after which time the immune response to infection becomes detectable with the appearance of IgM and IgG antibodies, and the disappearance of circulating virus from the bloodstream.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF SEVERE CASES
• While most human cases are relatively mild, a small proportion of patients develops a much more severe disease. This generally appears as one of several recognizable syndromes: eye disease, meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissue) or haemorrhagic fever. The proportion of patients developing these three types of complications is about 0.5-2% for eye disease, and less than 1% for meningoencephalitis and haemorrhagic fever syndrome.
• The fever and other symptoms described in the preceding section, Clinical Features, may appear in association with eye disease, which characteristically manifests itself in retinal lesions. The onset of eye disease is usually one to three weeks after the first symptoms appear. When the lesions are in the macula, some degree of permanent visual loss will result. Death in patients with only ocular disease is uncommon.
• Another syndrome manifests itself with acute neurological disease, meningo-encephalitis. The onset of this syndrome is also usually one to three weeks after the first symptoms appear. Death in patients with only meningoencephalitis is uncommon.
• RVF may also manifest itself as haemorrhagic fever. Two to four days after the onset of illness, the patient shows evidence of severe liver disease, with jaundice and haemorrhagic phenomena, such as vomiting blood, passing blood in the faeces, developing a purpuric rash (a rash caused by bleeding in the skin), and bleeding from the gums. Patients with the RVF-haemorrhagic fever syndrome may remain viraemic for up to 10 days. The case-fatality rate for patients developing haemorrhagic disease is high at approximately 50%.
• Most fatalities occur in patients who have developed haemorrhagic fever. The total case fatality rate has varied widely in the various documented epidemics, but, overall, is less than 1%.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
• Several approaches may be used in diagnosing acute RVF. Serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunoassay (the "ELISA" or "EIA" methods) may demonstrate the presence of specific IgM antibodies to the virus. The virus itself may be detected in blood during the viremia phase of illness or post-mortem tissues by a variety of techniques including virus propagation (in cell cultures or inoculated animals), antigen detection tests, and PCR, a molecular method for detecting the viral genome.
• Most human cases of RVF are relatively mild and of short duration, so will not require any specific treatment. For the more severe cases, the mainstay of treatment is general supportive therapy
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
• RVF can be prevented by a sustained program of animal vaccination. Both live, attenuated, and killed vaccines have been developed for veterinary use. The live vaccine requires only one dose and produces long-lived immunity, but the presently-available vaccine may cause abortion if given to pregnant animals. The killed vaccines do not cause these unwanted effects, but multiple doses must be given to produce protective immunity. This may prove problematic in endemic areas.
• An inactivated vaccine has been developed for human use. This vaccine is not licensed and is not commercially available, but has been used experimentally to protect veterinary and laboratory personnel at high risk of exposure to RVF. Other candidate vaccines are under investigation.
• The risk of transmission from infected blood or tissues exists for people working with infected animals or people during an outbreak. Gloves and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn, and care taken when handling sick animals or their tissues. Healthcare workers looking after patients with suspected or confirmed RVF should employ universal precautions when taking and processing specimens from patients. Hospitalized patients should be nursed using barrier techniques. As noted above, laboratory workers are at risk, so samples taken for diagnosis from suspected human and animal cases of RVF should be handled by trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories.
• Other approaches to the control of disease involve protection from and control of the mosquito vectors. Personal protection is important and effective. Where appropriate, individuals should wear protective clothing, such as long shirts and trousers, use bednets and insect repellent, and avoid outdoor activity at peak biting times of the vector species. Measures to control mosquitoes during outbreaks, e.g., use of insecticides, are effective if conditions allow access to mosquito breeding sites.
New systems that monitor variations in climatic conditions are being applied to give advance warning of impending outbreaks by signalling events which may lead to increases in mosquito numbers. Such warnings will allow authorities to implement measures to avert an impending epidemic.
OVERVIEW Rift Valley Fever (RVF), is a zoonosis (a disease which primarily affects animals, but occasionally causes disease in humans). It may cause severe disease in both animals and humans leading to high morbidity and mortality. The death of RVF-infected livestock often leads to substantial economic losses.
Since 1930, when the virus was first isolated during an investigation into an epidemic amongst sheep on a farm in the Rift Valley of Kenya, there have been outbreaks in sub-Saharan and North Africa. In 1997-98, there was a major outbreak in Kenya and Somalia. In September 2000, RVF was for the first time reported outside of the African Continent. Cases were confirmed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This virgin-soil epidemic in the Arabian Peninsula raises the threat of expansion into other parts of Asia and Europe.
Many different species of mosquitoes are vectors for the RVF virus. There is, therefore, a potential for epizootics (epidemics amongst animals) and associated human epidemics following the introduction of the virus into a new area where these vectors are present. This has been demonstrated in the past and remains a concern.
RVF VIRUS
The virus, which causes RVF, is a member of the Phlebovirus genus, one of the five genera in the family Bunyaviridae.
RVF VECTORS
• RVF virus is primarily spread amongst animals by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• A wide variety of mosquito species may act as the vector for transmission of the RVF virus; in different regions a different species of mosquito may prove to be the predominant vector. In addition, the various vector species play differing roles in sustaining transmission of the virus.
• Aedes mosquitoes, for example, may acquire the virus from feeding on infected animals, and are capable of transovarial transmission (transmission of the virus from infected female mosquitoes to offspring via eggs), so new generations of infected mosquitoes may hatch from their eggs.
This provides a durable mechanism for maintaining the virus in nature, as the eggs of these mosquitoes may survive for periods of up to several years in dry conditions. During periods of inundation of larval habitats by rainfall, for example, in the rainy season, the eggs will hatch, and the mosquito population will increase and spread the virus to the animals on which they feed.
Previously uninfected Aedes and other species of mosquitoes will feed on infected, viraemic (virus circulating in the bloodstream) animals and thus amplify and perpetuate the outbreak by transmitting the virus to the animals on which they subsequently feed.
RVF VIRUS NON-HUMAN HOSTS
• Many types of animals may be infected with RVF, and disease may be severe in many domesticated animals including cattle, sheep, camels and goats. Sheep appear to be more susceptible than cattle and goats are less susceptible.
• Exotic breeds, which have been recently introduced into an endemic area, fare worse than breeds long adapted to local conditions.
• Animals of different ages also differ in their susceptibility to severe illness: over 90% of lambs infected with RVF die, whereas mortality amongst adult sheep can be as low as 10%.
• The abortion rate amongst pregnant, infected ewes is almost 100%. An epizootic (epidemic animal disease) of RVF is usually first manifested as a wave of unexplained abortions amongst livestock. This may signal the start of an epidemic.
TRANSMISSION TO HUMANS
• During epizootics, people may become infected with RVF either by being bitten by infected mosquitoes, or through contact with the blood, other body fluids or organs of infected animals.
• Such contact may occur during the care or slaughtering of infected animals, or possibly from the ingestion of raw milk.
• The virus may infect humans through inoculation (e.g., if the skin is broken, or through a wound from an infected knife), or through inhalation as an aerosol. The aerosol mode of transmission has also led to infection in laboratory workers
CLINICAL FEATURES
• The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of RVF varies from two to six days.
• There then follows an influenza-like illness, with sudden onset of fever, headache, myalgia (muscle pain) and backache. Some patients also develop neck stiffness, photophobia (the patient finds exposure to light uncomfortable) and vomiting; in these patients the disease, in the early stages, may be mistaken for meningitis.
• The symptoms of RVF usually last from four to seven days, after which time the immune response to infection becomes detectable with the appearance of IgM and IgG antibodies, and the disappearance of circulating virus from the bloodstream.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF SEVERE CASES
• While most human cases are relatively mild, a small proportion of patients develops a much more severe disease. This generally appears as one of several recognizable syndromes: eye disease, meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissue) or haemorrhagic fever. The proportion of patients developing these three types of complications is about 0.5-2% for eye disease, and less than 1% for meningoencephalitis and haemorrhagic fever syndrome.
• The fever and other symptoms described in the preceding section, Clinical Features, may appear in association with eye disease, which characteristically manifests itself in retinal lesions. The onset of eye disease is usually one to three weeks after the first symptoms appear. When the lesions are in the macula, some degree of permanent visual loss will result. Death in patients with only ocular disease is uncommon.
• Another syndrome manifests itself with acute neurological disease, meningo-encephalitis. The onset of this syndrome is also usually one to three weeks after the first symptoms appear. Death in patients with only meningoencephalitis is uncommon.
• RVF may also manifest itself as haemorrhagic fever. Two to four days after the onset of illness, the patient shows evidence of severe liver disease, with jaundice and haemorrhagic phenomena, such as vomiting blood, passing blood in the faeces, developing a purpuric rash (a rash caused by bleeding in the skin), and bleeding from the gums. Patients with the RVF-haemorrhagic fever syndrome may remain viraemic for up to 10 days. The case-fatality rate for patients developing haemorrhagic disease is high at approximately 50%.
• Most fatalities occur in patients who have developed haemorrhagic fever. The total case fatality rate has varied widely in the various documented epidemics, but, overall, is less than 1%.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
• Several approaches may be used in diagnosing acute RVF. Serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunoassay (the "ELISA" or "EIA" methods) may demonstrate the presence of specific IgM antibodies to the virus. The virus itself may be detected in blood during the viremia phase of illness or post-mortem tissues by a variety of techniques including virus propagation (in cell cultures or inoculated animals), antigen detection tests, and PCR, a molecular method for detecting the viral genome.
• Most human cases of RVF are relatively mild and of short duration, so will not require any specific treatment. For the more severe cases, the mainstay of treatment is general supportive therapy
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
• RVF can be prevented by a sustained program of animal vaccination. Both live, attenuated, and killed vaccines have been developed for veterinary use. The live vaccine requires only one dose and produces long-lived immunity, but the presently-available vaccine may cause abortion if given to pregnant animals. The killed vaccines do not cause these unwanted effects, but multiple doses must be given to produce protective immunity. This may prove problematic in endemic areas.
• An inactivated vaccine has been developed for human use. This vaccine is not licensed and is not commercially available, but has been used experimentally to protect veterinary and laboratory personnel at high risk of exposure to RVF. Other candidate vaccines are under investigation.
• The risk of transmission from infected blood or tissues exists for people working with infected animals or people during an outbreak. Gloves and other appropriate protective clothing should be worn, and care taken when handling sick animals or their tissues. Healthcare workers looking after patients with suspected or confirmed RVF should employ universal precautions when taking and processing specimens from patients. Hospitalized patients should be nursed using barrier techniques. As noted above, laboratory workers are at risk, so samples taken for diagnosis from suspected human and animal cases of RVF should be handled by trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories.
• Other approaches to the control of disease involve protection from and control of the mosquito vectors. Personal protection is important and effective. Where appropriate, individuals should wear protective clothing, such as long shirts and trousers, use bednets and insect repellent, and avoid outdoor activity at peak biting times of the vector species. Measures to control mosquitoes during outbreaks, e.g., use of insecticides, are effective if conditions allow access to mosquito breeding sites.
New systems that monitor variations in climatic conditions are being applied to give advance warning of impending outbreaks by signalling events which may lead to increases in mosquito numbers. Such warnings will allow authorities to implement measures to avert an impending epidemic.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Arusha Dogs
In Arusha Tanzania There is many street dogs roaming in the streets of the Arusha City, whereby due to overpopulation of these Animals the Arusha Municipal Council decrease them by shooting with gun. This is cruelty in the Tourists city.
TAPO will under take the Arusha dogs rehabilation program which will take all street dogs housing them, treat them, and train them to be used in many works like guarding.
Please support us in order to launch this program
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Killings of Innocent Cats
In Tanzania many domestic cat are killied by local believes to associate them with witchcraft, this is not fare as all animals have rights to live free without cruelty. please stop this killing by educating TanzanianWednesday, February 28, 2007
Support Monduli Donkeys Welfares Project
Monduli donkeys are lifeline for the most of the residents who own them but their condition is poor and weak, please support us in order to help these Animal to live better life.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Mlima Kilimanjaro
Uchomaji moto atika mlima kilimanjaro unaharibu mazingira na makazi ya viumbe wengi
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