Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed alarm over the emergence of new livestock diseases within the region.
This concern was voiced during the 10th annual meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Network, currently taking place in Abuja.
The meeting is expected to address the implications of these emerging diseases on livestock health and regional food security, focusing on coordinated strategies for monitoring, prevention, and control across member states.
Over the years, West Africa has faced recurring livestock disease outbreaks that threaten food security and rural livelihoods.
Historically, significant livestock diseases have included:
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): A highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, and goats. Periodic outbreaks across West Africa disrupt local economies by limiting animal trade.
Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP): Endemic in parts of the region, CBPP poses a major threat to cattle, causing significant losses for smallholder farmers.
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): Often referred to as “goat plague,” PPR affects small ruminants, leading to high mortality in goats and sheep. Major outbreaks in West Africa have devastated rural herds.
African Swine Fever (ASF): Deadly to pigs and difficult to control, ASF has impacted pork production in several West African countries, affecting food sources and local incomes.
Newcastle Disease: Affecting poultry, this disease has severely impacted smallholder farmers, as poultry farming is an essential livelihood in the region.
The annual ECOWAS meeting aims to strengthen collaborative measures to mitigate the impact of such diseases, addressing both current challenges and the threat of emerging diseases through improved surveillance and response efforts across member states.