Use of a One Health approach for understanding the epidemiology and management of anthrax outbreaks in the human-livestock-wildlife and environmental health interface areas of Northern Tanzania

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases are infections, which are transmissible between animals and humans. In both low and middle-income countries (LMIC), animals (livestock or wildlife) and humans often live close together. In LMIC, people are especially dependent on livestock and poultry for food, clothing, fertilizer, draught power, workforce, and as an important financial security. This interaction between humans, livestock and wildlife can easily result in an interspecies transmission of zoonotic diseases. The overall aim of this study was to identify the drivers of infection and options for prevention and control of anthrax outbreaks in the humans-livestock-wildlife and environmental health interface areas of Northern Tanzania. Specifically the study intended: (i) to identify hotspot areas of anthrax outbreaks in the human-livestock-wildlife interface areas of northern Tanzania; (ii) to assess the efficiency of the existing structures for response to anthrax outbreaks using a One Health approach; (iii) to determine the risk factors associated with frequent anthrax outbreaks in the hotspot areas of northern Tanzania and (iv) to determine the influence of climatic and environmental factors for the spatial distribution of Bacillus anthracis spores in Tanzania and use this information in disease control and prevention.

Zoonotic diseases are infections, which are transmissible between animals and humans. In both low and middle-income countries (LMIC), animals (livestock or wildlife) and humans often live close together. In LMIC, people are especially dependent on livestock and poultry for food, clothing, fertilizer, draught power, workforce, and as an important financial security. This interaction between humans, livestock and wildlife can easily result in an interspecies transmission of zoonotic diseases. The overall aim of this study was to identify the drivers of infection and options for prevention and control of anthrax outbreaks in the humans-livestock-wildlife and environmental health interface areas of Northern Tanzania. Specifically the study intended: (i) to identify hotspot areas of anthrax outbreaks in the human-livestock-wildlife interface areas of northern Tanzania; (ii) to assess the efficiency of the existing structures for response to anthrax outbreaks using a One Health approach; (iii) to determine the risk factors associated with frequent anthrax outbreaks in the hotspot areas of northern Tanzania and (iv) to determine the influence of climatic and environmental factors for the spatial distribution of Bacillus anthracis spores in Tanzania and use this information in disease control and prevention.