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Viral zoonoses are a major cause of morbidity
and mortality in Africa and more than fifteen zoonotic viruses are known to
exist in the African continent. Six of these: rabies, Lassa, Ebola, yellow
fever, Rift valley fever and monkey pox viruses are responsible for the majority
of deaths and morbidity associated with viral zoonoses in the continent.
Rabies
virus remains enzootic in dogs and cats and continues to cause human death in
many African countries, predominantly following dog bites, and outbreaks of
Ebola and Rift valley fever are reported from time to time in countries of East
Africa. The last decade saw major landmarks in the epidemiology of viral
zoonotic agents in West Africa which include the emergence of Ebola and the
accompanying explosive outbreaks in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the
prolonged and large epidemics of Lassa fever in Nigeria, the resurgence of
monkey pox and yellow fever in Nigeria, and the emergence of Rift valley fever
in Niger and Mali.
The impact of viral zoonoses on the
development of African countries and their economies is enormous. Outbreaks of
these diseases have made Africa unattractive as a tourist destination and for
investment leading to a reduction in job creation and growth. They also cause
losses in livestock and agricultural production and reduction in cross-border
trade with neighboring countries as a result of restrictions of movement, good
and services. In order to mitigate impact of these diseases on African
countries, priority must be given to the control of their causative agents.
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