International One Health experts prioritise rabies in Myanmar

On 9th and 10th March, veterinary, medical and environmental experts thrashed out a One Health Strategy for Myanmar at a workshop in Nay Pyi Taw.The event was organized by the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Myanmar Programme with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Dr Soe Lwin Nyein, Director General of the Department of Public Health said, “Many of the emerging infectious diseases are highly infectious and animal origin accounts for 70%. 

Myanmar is growing fast in terms of social and economic development. Trade, travel and tourism sectors become more developed with these positive transformations, increasing the cross-border movement of humans, animals and products. This leads to higher risk of transmission of communicable diseases.”

Participants discussed One Health National Strategy Approaches in Bangladesh and Thailand and set out priority areas for Myanmar. Rabies topped a list of six priority zoonotic diseases. Other priorities were zoonotic influenza, tuberculosis, food-borne diseases, anthrax and Japanese encephalitis.

More Information Here: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_170316b.html