Fighting bovine tuberculosis in Africa

Bovine tuberculosis is a health risk for many people and livestock in Africa. In Ethiopia, Wageningen scientists studied the factors that increase the risk of infection with bovine tuberculosis, such as herd size, herd mobility, contact with wildlife, and social factors. They show that an increasing herd mobility and the social practices of exchanging livestock between herd owners strongly increases the infection risks for both livestock and people. This knowledge helps to improve the control measures of this infectious disease, increasing the quality of life of many African pastoralists.