Wildlife-Livestock Interface in the East African Rift: Mapping Emerging Risks
Field research in the Rift Valley has identified new high-risk contact zones between wildlife and domestic livestock. Real-time One Health surveillance data is now being shared across national boundaries for the first time.
The East African Rift Valley, stretching from Mozambique to Ethiopia, is one of the continent's most biodiverse ecosystems. However, this ecological richness comes with considerable health risks, particularly at contact points between wildlife and domestic livestock. A research team coordinated by ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) has recently published a detailed mapping of these high-risk interfaces.
The study, which mobilized field teams across five countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda — identified 47 priority contact zones where wildlife-livestock interactions are particularly intense. Serological analyses revealed the active circulation of Rift Valley fever, brucellosis, and several strains of Mycobacterium bovis resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Dr. Delia Grace, senior epidemiologist at ILRI, stated that "these findings confirm that animal health policies can no longer be developed without considering the ecological dimension." She emphasized the need to integrate wildlife surveillance data into national health information systems.
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a real-time dashboard has been deployed, enabling veterinary authorities in six countries to share epidemiological alerts instantaneously. This system represents a major advance in operationalizing the One Health approach in East Africa.
Need expertise on this topic?
Request a consultation