The UN agency for Food and Agriculture, FAO, has granted Senegal’s Ministry of Livestock and Animal Productions around $250,000 earmarked to help the West African country eradicate Tsetse flies main causes of animal Trypanosomiasis.
“This fund, a catalyst for nationwide action, will help set up entomological and parasitological surveillance of trypanosomiasis in potential breeding areas in Senegal and neighboring countries”, said Ibrahima Faye, FAO program associate in Senegal.
Ibrahima Faye also indicated that tsetse flies attack 10 million of km² on the African continent and are the main causes of human and animal Trypanosomiasis. In Senegal areas affected amount to 60,000 km². Trypanosomiasis are diseases that inflict significant illness in animals and cause major economic losses in livestock.
“The FAO estimates that more than three million cattle die from Trypanosomiasis every year. In addition, there are significant indirect losses in the livestock sector, due to abortion, infertility, weight loss, reduced animal traction and milk production. Direct annual losses linked to animal trypanosomiasis are currently in the region of one billion five hundred million US dollars,” Faye added.
The funds will be used to train technicians of the ministry to fight Tsetse flies in Niayes, Delta du Saloum and Casamance regions.