Vets play key role in fight against diseases
VETERINARIANS AROUND the globe are joining together in observing World Veterinary Day on April 24. The theme for this year: ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-19 crisis’, underscores the crucial role played by veterinarians in the fight against devastating animal diseases of zoonotic importance. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of future outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases, veterinarians must remain focused on delivering care to companion and food animals, to enhance food security, while safeguarding public health.
I have noted that throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, our veterinary professionals in the public and private sectors have dedicated themselves to the continued treatment of our livestock and pets and to deliver advisory, regulatory and diagnostic veterinary services to clients in an efficient manner. This entails adjustments in methods of delivery to continue to offer exceptional veterinary care, while maintaining the safety of clients and employees. In doing so, operational processes had to be revamped to improve hygiene and cleaning measures, sanitising of all areas between appointments, mask-wearing and staff rotation.
In recent years, as a result of the emergence and re-emergence of devastating animal diseases of zoonotic/ public health significance, there has been increased interest in the concept of One Health. The adverse socioeconomic impacts of these diseases on human and animal health continue to pose severe challenges for international organisations and governments across the globe, resulting in a better understanding of the importance of collaborative efforts in resolving such global crises as the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and their various stakeholders have been collaborating in a ‘One Health’ approach in an effort to foster best practices geared towards minimising further emergence of devastating diseases, and to address issues such as global warming and climate change. Due to the fact that the majority (about 75 per cent) of recently emerging animal diseases are zoonotic and originate in animals, prevention and control strategies require a collaborative approach between environmentalists, veterinarians, physicians and other public health professionals. Zoonotic disease threats must be confronted at the ‘human-animal interface’ by way of implementation of disease surveillance systems involving both domestic and wild animal populations and humans. The major objectives of these collaborative activities should be geared towards reduction of cross-species transmission of zoonotic and emerging animal and human pathogens.
As investigations continue into the source of origin of the SARS-CoV-2, it is known that some of the routes of transmission of recently emerging diseases to humans vary, from indirect means via food and insect vectors to direct contact with animals, particularly in the wild, due significantly to encroachment into wildlife habitats. For these reasons, veterinary services must always be present at the forefront (the animal-human interface), including abattoirs/ slaughter houses, ports of entry, wild-bird nesting sites, among other key locations, to conduct ongoing disease surveillance activities and for immediate deployment when needed, in an effort to mitigate the risks of disease events. The strengthening of veterinary services, including increase in engagement of veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals, becomes even more relevant due to current trends
“On the event of World Veterinary Day 2021, I offer my support to our hard-working veterinarians in private practice, academia, Veterinary Services Division and also our veterinary paraprofessionals, for their continued commitment towards the safeguard of public health and urge them to remain safe as we all weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
in climate change, human development and globalisation, which all contribute to increasing the likelihood of emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks.
Our veterinary services, veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals in their small numbers, even with limited available resources, all continue to play a key role in the fight against these diseases, through their active participation in the implementation of robust surveillance, prevention and control measures to safeguard our human population and to avert future crises. Our veterinarians, particularly those in private practice, are tasked with the responsibility of advising animal owners and their own staff members at risk of exposure to zoonotic disease to seek medical advice when required. Our veterinary medical practitioners also liaise with human health practitioners in relation to diagnosis of zoonotic diseases in animals under veterinary care, so as to minimise the risk to humans.
On the event of World Veterinary Day 2021, I offer my support to our hardworking veterinarians in private practice, academia, Veterinary Services Division and also our veterinary paraprofessionals, for their continued commitment towards the safeguard of public health and urge them to remain safe as we all weather the COVID-19 pandemic.