Dear All,
With the socio-economists now fully engaged with us I am emboldened to ask a question from my back-burner.
Attempting to eradicate PPR is a substantial task. Even if we follow, as discussed, an epidemiologically targeted approach to immunization (and I for one believe this is the way to go) we will have limitations on our resources. Therefore, if we focus these on the high-risk targeted populations how will we also control disease in the non-targeted areas and how best can this be done? Will there be sufficient public funds for outbreak control or do we have look for an alternative? If the latter then I would like ask if we are in a position in some if not most countries to make PPR vaccine freely and widely available to those farmers who want to use it either themselves or through their local private animal health
service provider? The invitation to this e-conference stated that one of the anticipated roles of PPR-GREN is to promote public-private partnerships. This could be one of them.
If we concentrate on the virus heartlands we must still have a contingency plan for livestock and their owners elsewhere.
Comments please - Moderator.