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Animal diseases cause major
economic losses through
mortality, reduced productivity,
lower fertility, condemned
products, and restricted access
to potential markets.
The Animal Health Service
(AGAH) is responsible for
helping member countries to
develop strategies for the
economic control of animal
diseases.
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The effective control of communicable
diseases requires international effort.
AGAH's Infectious and Parasitic Disease
Group takes a lead in the
international coordination of the
prevention, diagnosis and control of
important diseases, such as Foot and Mouth
Disease, Rinderpest and African Swine
Fever, as well as a range of diseases
transmitted by ticks.
Many of the major animal diseases are
transmitted by insects, such as, the
tsetse fly. The Insect Vector Disease
Group has been spearheading the
control of Trypanosomiasis by introducing
new, ecologically sound techniques for
containing the tsetse challenge, working
closely with national land use planners.
Insects themselves can cause
considerable losses. Through the
Screwworm Emergency Centre For North
Africa (SECNA) AGA has been
particularly successful in coordinating
the eradication of the New World Screwworm
in Libya, and preventing its spread
throughout Africa. This was achieved by
releasing massive numbers of sterile male
flies.
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Despite technical advances,
weaknesses in the delivery of
veterinary services often prevent
these benefits reaching the
producer. The Veterinary
Services Group addresses
these issues.
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