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Patterns, risk factors and characteristics of reported and perceived foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Uganda

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Abstract

Patterns of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Uganda were elucidated from spatial and temporal retrospective data retrieved from monthly reports from District Veterinary Officers (DVOs) to the central administration for the years spanning 2001–2008. An assessment of perceived FMD occurrence, risk factors and the associated characteristics was made based on semi-structured questionnaires administered to the DVOs. During this period, a total of 311 FMD outbreaks were reported in 56 (70%) out of Uganda’s 80 districts. The number of reported FMD outbreaks changed over time and by geographical regions. Occurrence of FMD was significantly associated with the dry season months (p = 0.0346), the time when animals movements are more frequent. The average number of FMD outbreaks was higher for some sub-counties adjacent to national parks than for other sub-counties, whilst proximity to international border only seemed to play a role at the southern border. DVOs believed that the major risk factor for FMD outbreaks was animal movements (odds ratio OR 50.8, confidence interval CI 17.8–144.6) and that most outbreaks were caused by introduction of sick animals.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) under the project: Livestock-Wildlife Diseases in East Africa. Special thanks go to the District Veterinary Officers and the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries for the information on the subject. Dr. Noelina Nantima and Dr. Joseph Sseruga facilitated the process of questionnaire administration. Mr. Kennedy Jumanyol gave helpful advice during data analysis.

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Author notes

  1. Soren Alexandersen

    Present address: National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Canada, MBR3E 3M4

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, P.O. Box 513, Entebbe, Uganda

    Chrisostom Ayebazibwe, Frank N. Mwiine & Anna Rose Ademun Okurut

  2. Makerere University Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

    Vincent B. Muwanika

  3. National Veterinary Institute, Danish Technical University, Lindholm, 4771, Kalvehave, Denmark

    Kirsten Tjørnehøj & Soren Alexandersen

  4. Department of Biology, Ole Maaløesvej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    Hans R. Siegismund

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  1. Chrisostom Ayebazibwe
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Correspondence to Chrisostom Ayebazibwe.

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Ayebazibwe, C., Tjørnehøj, K., Mwiine, F.N. et al. Patterns, risk factors and characteristics of reported and perceived foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Uganda. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 1547–1559 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9605-3

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