Economic impact of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Khartoum State, Sudan

The economic impact of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease that took place during 2002 was assessed in dairy farms of Khartoum state, Sudan. A total of 11 farms (8 cooperative and 3 privately owned) of mostly crossbred Friesian X indigenous cattle were investigated. The total number of the animals in these farms were 1160 of which 715 were adult and 445 were calves. The statistical analysis was carried out using t student test. The costs of the outbreak were assessed in terms of losses in milk production, costs of drugs used to alleviate the symptoms, and death of affected animals. The overall cost to the dairy farmers in the state was estimated USD 1 771 924 with the loss in milk production constituting the main component in this cost.


Introduction
Regular, almost annual outbreaks of FMD are reported in Northern Sudan (Eisa and Rweyemamu, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is the most 1979; El Ghali and El Hussein, 1995).Earlier studies contagious of animal diseases with a great potential for indicated that the country is highly endemic for FMD causing heavy economic losses in susceptible livestock.(Abu Elzein, 1983,Abu Elzein et al,1987) and four of The disease is characterized by high morbidity, low the seven FMD virus serotypes (O, A, SAT-1 and SATmortality, and development of vesicles and erosions in 2) have been reported (Abu Elzein, 1987).More the mucosa of the mouth and skin of the inter-digital recently, Habiela et al (2010) indicated that three spaces and coronary bands.Cloven-hoofed animals serotypes (O, A, and SAT2) were detected in 24 such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and pigs as well as samples that were collected from Sudan during the several wild animals are susceptible to infection with period 2004-2008.These authors concluded that the FMD.
recent outbreaks of FMD in Sudan were caused by Countries free of FMD take every possible seotypes O and SAT2, while serotype A was last measure to prevent entry of virus.An FMD outbreak in detected in 2006(Habiela et al 2010).Inspite of these these countries may cause substantial costs in term of facts, little if any attention has been paid to assess the costs of control, disruption in animal movement, economic importance of FMD in the Sudan.prevention measures and prohibition by countries free The aim of this communication is to shed some of disease of the importation or exportation of agricultural products.Farmers affected by presence of lights on the economic aspects of an FMD outbreak FMD suffer severe economic losses due to application that recently took place in dairy farms in Khartoum of quarantine measures, production losses resulting State.from reduction in milk yield, milk or livestock that Materials and Methods cannot be marketed, mastitis, weight loss and lameness in draught animals.In countries not free of FMD the Epizotiologic data concerning the year 2002 disease can also cause great financial losses in terms of FMD outbreak were collected in several cooperative production losses as mentioned above and costs of and private dairy farms in Hillat Kuku area in control through vaccination programs.
Khartoum North.Animal owners and veterinarians employed by these farms were questioned on several (P<0.05) in adults affected in the co-operative farms occasions during the course of the outbreak on aspects (44.3%) compared to adults in the privately owned one of the disease including incidence of FMD, losses in (18.4%).The highest reported incidence was 71% in milk production due to the disease and its clinical one cooperative farm and the lowest was 16% in a manifestation (e.g.lameness, mastitis, ulcerations on cooperative farm also.The main longer-term clinical side effects observed were lameness, mastitis and teat teats of lactating animals and deaths due to the disease).
ulcerations with incidences of 50%, 0.6% and 41% A total of 11 farms (8 cooperative and 3 privately respectively.Deaths due to FMD infection numbered owned) of mostly crossbred Friesian X indigenous 19 (5.7%) (Table 3).cattle were investigated.The total number of the animals in these farms was 1160 of which 715 were

II. Estimation of economic costs due to FMD
adult and 445 were calves.The statistical analysis was outbreak: The costs reported herein were estimated carried out using t student test.
in Sudanese Dinars (the Sudanese currency used during the time of the outbreak) and then converted to

Results
US dollars using change rates of that time.

I. Epizootiological investigations:
The first 1.Cost due to loss in milk production: It is occurrence of the disease was reported by owners to estimated that there are around 400,000 crossbred take place in late December 2002 and to have spread to animals in dairy farms around urban areas of Khartoum all farms in the area by early February 2003.The State.Most of the farms keep only negligible number disease was diagnosed as FMD based on clinical of bulls.As shown here adult females represented 62% findings and symptoms The owners claimed that FMD of the total number kept in the farms (Table -2).Hence is an annual event on their premises and none of them the total number of crossbred adult females assuming reported using vaccines against the disease.60% females (Gameel et al., 1987) is 244,000 and total The incidence of FMD in the investigated farms number of producing cows assuming 50% lactating is shown in tables (1 and 2).The incidence was higher, cows is 122,000.Number FMD infected lactating cow but not significantly different (P>0.05) in total number of calves (41%) compared to adults (34%) in both assuming FMD incidence of 38% (table 2) is 46300.kinds of farms.However, there was a significant difference As most of the animal owners estimated a 50% reduction in the milk yield that lasted for at least two attended to.In this respect, FMD should come into weeks and the average yield of a crossbred cow under prominence as it is considered one of the major Sudan conditions is estimated at 22 Ibs/day (Mohammadin, impediments to our livestock and livestock products export.Hence, studies such as the one presented here 1994).Hence total loss in milk production over two are badly required to help clarify such alleged imporweeks period is 7,130,200 Ibs.
tance by identifying major health and production Total cost of the lost milk assuming 50 problems and their relative importance.They are also dinnars/Ib (which is the lowest price) is 356,510,000 required to set priorities and develop policies and to Dinnars or 1,340,263 USD.
support implementation of disease control programs.

Cost due to veterinary drugs used to alleviate
The epizootiological findings on FMD reported the effects of FMD: The cost of systemic antibiotic here in were mainly meant to serve as guiding parameters treatment, use of multivitamins and antiseptics for in the assessment of the economic impact of FMD on dressing of infected wounds is estimated by owners to the dairy industry in Khartoum State.However, it may range between 700 and 2500 SD/ animal (average be worthwhile to briefly discuss few of these findings.1340 SD).Hence total cost of treatment assuming This study showed that the incidence of FMD varied 1340 SD/animal is 62,042,000 SD or 233, 240, 6 U$.
greatly between farms.This may relate to management practices, as the incidences were substantially higher 3. Cost due to death of affected animals: As shown in table (3), 5.7% of the affected animals may in cooperative farms than in privately managed farms.die due to complications of FMD.Most of the dead Cooperative farms premises are poorly maintained with animals are calves.Then the total number of deaths poor fences allowing for free movement of both due to FMD is 2639.Total cost due to death assuming animals and personnel among these farms.This 20,000 SD / animal is 52,780,000 SD or 198,420 USD.variation in incidence also indicated none or partially immune animal populations.This is also with the 4. Overall cost of the FMD outbreak: The total cost claim by the livestock owners and veterinarians in the of the FMD outbreak including costs due to milk area "that FMD is an annual event on their premises" production loss, drugs used, and death sums up to may indicate frequent introduction of new types 471,332,000 SD or 1,771,924 USD.and/or subtypes of FMD virus.This study also reveals

Discussion
that no measures e.g.isolation of infected animals, restriction of movement.etc. are undertaken to control FMD in Sudan is still ignored because of the spread of FMD, to the contrary, some owners deliberately need of the veterinary authorities, and justifiably so, to infect their animals by allowing health animals to mix deal with more pressing disease problems such as with affected ones or alternatively by rubbing collected PPR, sheep and goat pox, Contagious Bovine Pleuro vesicles materials from FMD affected animals to the Pneumonia, Haemorrhagic septicaemia etc, which mouth of healthy animals.cause higher mortalities and severe economic losses.
The findings in the present investigation indicated The successes that have been achieved over the past that losses due to reduced milk production constituted the two decades in the control of these conditions should, main (75.6%) component in the economic impact however, create some room for other diseases to be followed by costs due to mortalities (13.2%), and costs Acknowledgements of drugs used (11.2%).This finding could highlight the The authors wish to thank animal owners, effect of FMD not only from economical point of view, veterinarians, and laborers in the dairy farms visited but also the effect on food security and livelihood of during the outbreak.We would also like to thank Dr. the small holder farmers as milk constitutes a major Diaeldin A. Salih for statistical analysis and the item in the food of these people in Sudan.
Director General of the Animal Resources Corporation Although, the economic costs of FMD outbreak (ARRC) for permission to publish this work.in Khartoum State (471,332,000 SD or 1,771,924 U$)

Table - 3: Incidence of some clinical sequelae of FMD
*(%) incidence, N: not available