ACTION TRACK 2 Reducing risks associated with endemic, novel, emerging and re-emerging zoonoses The prevention and control of zoonotic disease outbreaks requires coordinated interdisciplinary responses across human, animal and environmental health sectors. Several endemic animal diseases in South Africa pose a zoonotic risk to humans; these include rabies, bovine brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis and leptospirosis. Sporadic outbreaks of zoonoses in animals, such as Rift Valley fever and anthrax, do occur, and may affect the human population, while emerging and re-emerging zoonoses like SARS, Zika fever, MERS and avian influenza remain an ongoing global threat. In South Africa, outbreaks of controlled and notifiable animal diseases are reported to and managed by provincial veterinary services. The provincial Department of Health is informed or involved if the outbreak is a zoonotic disease. Disease outbreaks among humans are managed by districts and the provincial Department of Health. In the event of zoonotic disease outbreaks, provincial veterinary services are informed or involved. Certain priority zoonotic diseases fall under category 1 of the By Dr Alicia Cloete of the Animal Health Directorate, Disease Control Sub-Directorate, Department of Agriculture, South Africa national Department of Health’s notifiable medical conditions. Good communication exists across sectors during zoonotic disease events due to coordination structures such as the multisectoral national outbreak response team, provincial outbreak response teams and incident management teams, mainly led by the Department of Health, with available terms of reference and the capacity for rapid mobilisation and deployment of response teams when needed. South Africa has extensive experience in responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks, with rabies being the flagship example of how relevant sectors, including the environmental sector, work together to control and prevent this disease in animals and humans. A standardised approach, supported by standard operating procedures, would benefit the country by promoting consistency in managing zoonotic diseases across all regions and sectors, while providing clear guidance for settings where cross-sectoral collaboration may be limited or newly established (as pertains to zoonotic influenza, for example). 075
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