August 7, 2024

Global Burden of Animal Diseases guide to assess economic impact of animal diseases

This programme, established in 2021 and led by the University of Liverpool, offers a systematic framework for assessing animal disease burdens.

Farmed animals constitute 40% of the value of global agriculture, and about one-fifth of the world's population depends on these animals for their livelihoods and financial security. GBADs aims to assist veterinary services, animal health professionals, researchers, and policymakers by providing comprehensive data on animal disease burdens, aiding in more informed decision-making.

The guide is a dynamic document that will evolve as GBADs methods are refined and new methods are developed.

Professor Jonathan Rushton from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, emphasised the guide's significance, stating that it serves as a central reference for conducting animal disease burden estimations. It provides guidance for researchers and veterinary services on implementing and interpreting GBADs methodologies. Users can gain a better understanding of their livestock populations at risk and assess disease burdens, ultimately aiding in better resource allocation and supporting improved animal welfare, food security, and economic stability.

The GBADs programme welcomes collaboration with governments, institutions, and individuals interested in conducting animal disease burden estimations. It also seeks to collate data necessary for these estimations and encourages data owners to contribute.

GBADs' international collaboration and multi-institutional structure leverage expertise from various fields, ensuring that its methodologies are robust, transparent, and applicable globally. This approach enables GBADs to effectively address the complexities of animal disease burdens and provides valuable tools for stakeholders worldwide.

-      Agriland