Goats at water hole, South Sudan Charles Hoots
Rift Valley Fever outbreaks have long been predicted in Uganda. But when the nation declared its first ever outbreak of this zoonotic virus last week, it could hardly have occurred in a more unlikely part of the country. This is just the latest in several surprises this mosquito-borne virus has thrown at us over the past few decades.
Dogs and pigs scavenge for offal left by butchers in South Sudan Charles Hoots
Over 120,000 refugees were living in four tented camps in the far northeast of South Sudan when I arrived in July 2013. Caught up in a complicated war in neighboring Sudan’s Blue Nile State, this diverse mix of people had fled the aerial bombings and ground attacks on their remote villages. Those who had warning herded together their handful of cattle, sheep, and goats and drove them along on their way to an uncertain future in the newly independent nation of South Sudan.
Lake Victoria from Entebbe, Uganda, near the forest for which the Zika virus is named. Charles Hoots
With concern of a possible connection between Zika virus and microcephaly in Brazilian babies, researchers are racing to fill in the many blanks about the virus in order to better control it. But predicting the future of Zika virus in the Americas is fraught with difficulties. The behavior of closely related, recently introduced viruses offers clues. But despite similarities, the differences are many and prevent sweeping generalities. Though not reassuring to couples contemplating starting a family right now, it is this uncertainty that makes these viruses so fascinating.
Sheep and Ankole cattle, Uganda Charles Hoots
As the world embarks on a quest to eradicate a second animal disease, peste des petits ruminants, lessons from the last successful eradication campaign will be invaluable. The stakes are high as the disease kills millions of sheep and goats, costing the world billions of dollars each year – and eradication campaigns are expensive. This post and the next look at several characteristics of this disease that make it a good candidate for such an effort.