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Poultry farmer response to disease outbreaks in smallholder farming systems in southern Vietnam
- Source :
- eLife, eLife, eLife Sciences Publication, 2020, 9, ⟨10.7554/ELIFE.59212⟩, eLife, Vol 9 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Avian influenza outbreaks have been occurring on smallholder poultry farms in Asia for two decades. Farmer responses to these outbreaks can slow down or accelerate virus transmission. We used a longitudinal survey of 53 small-scale chicken farms in southern Vietnam to investigate the impact of outbreaks with disease-induced mortality on harvest rate, vaccination, and disinfection behaviors. We found that in small broiler flocks (≤16 birds/flock) the estimated probability of harvest was 56% higher when an outbreak occurred, and 214% higher if an outbreak with sudden deaths occurred in the same month. Vaccination and disinfection were strongly and positively correlated with the number of birds. Small-scale farmers – the overwhelming majority of poultry producers in low-income countries – tend to rely on rapid sale of birds to mitigate losses from diseases. As depopulated birds are sent to markets or trading networks, this reactive behavior has the potential to enhance onward transmission.<br />eLife digest The past few decades have seen the circulation of avian influenza viruses increase in domesticated poultry, regularly creating outbreaks associated with heavy economic loss. In addition, these viruses can sometimes ‘jump’ into humans, potentially allowing new diseases – including pandemics – to emerge. The Mekong river delta, in southern Vietnam, is one of the regions with the highest circulation of avian influenza. There, a large number of farmers practice poultry farming on a small scale, with limited investments in disease prevention such as vaccination or disinfection. Yet, it was unclear how the emergence of an outbreak could change the behavior of farmers. To learn more, Delabouglise et al. monitored 53 poultry farms, with fewer than 1000 chickens per farm, monthly for over a year and a half. In particular, they tracked when outbreaks occurred on each farm, and how farmers reacted. Overall, poultry farms with more than 17 chickens were more likely to vaccinate their animals and use disinfection practices than smaller farms. However, disease outbreaks did not affect vaccination or disinfection practices. When an outbreak occurred, farmers with fewer than 17 chickens tended to sell their animals earlier. For instance, they were 214% more likely to send their animals to market if an outbreak with sudden deaths occurred that month. Even if they do not make as much money selling immature individuals, this strategy may allow them to mitigate economical loss: they can sell animals that may die soon, saving on feeding costs and potentially avoiding further contamination. However, as animals were often sold alive in markets or to itinerant sellers, this practice increases the risk of spreading diseases further along the trade circuits. These data could be most useful to regional animal health authorities, which have detailed knowledge of local farming systems and personal connections in the communities where they work. This can allow them to effect change. They could work with small poultry farmers to encourage them to adopt efficient disease management strategies. Ultimately, this could help control the spread of avian influenza viruses, and potentially help to avoid future pandemics.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]
L73 - Maladies des animaux
medicine.disease_cause
Poultry
Disease Outbreaks
law.invention
Grippe aviaire
0302 clinical medicine
health behavior
law
exploitant agricole
Global health
health economics
Longitudinal Studies
Biology (General)
Animal Husbandry
Socioeconomics
2. Zero hunger
Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Farmers
Aviculture
General Neuroscience
Vaccination
livestock systems
General Medicine
Poultry farming
Chicken
Virus
Transmission (mechanics)
Geography
Vietnam
Medicine
Research Article
Human
Farms
QH301-705.5
Exploitation agricole familiale
Science
030231 tropical medicine
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
poultry production
Petite exploitation agricole
03 medical and health sciences
Rivers
medicine
Animals
Humans
Influenzavirus aviaire
Transmission des maladies
behavioral epidemiology
Models, Statistical
General Immunology and Microbiology
business.industry
Outbreak
E80 - Économie familiale et artisanale
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
Disinfection
Epidemiology and Global Health
030104 developmental biology
Agriculture
Influenza in Birds
[SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie
Flock
Élevage de volailles
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 2050084X
- Volume :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- eLife
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5e80058162fb1f45668e99a3f4a3d190
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.59212