Syndromic surveillance of peste des petits ruminants and other animal diseases in Koinadugu district, Sierra Leone, 2011-2012.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct syndromic surveillance for important veterinary diseases in Koinadugu district, Northern Province, Sierra Leone. This study examined all veterinary syndromic surveillance reports submitted to the district veterinary office from January 2011 through December 2012. In total, 5679 case reports were submitted, including 2394 fatalities. The most common syndrome reported was consistent with peste de petits ruminants (PPR) in goats (n = 1649). PPR cases were reported from eight of 11 chiefdoms in the district, with a 42 per 1000 reported incidence rate and a 48% case fatality rate. Other syndromes reported were consistent with trypanosomiasis in cattle (n = 1402), Newcastle disease in poultry (n = 911), black quarter in cattle (n = 691), and haemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle (n = 542). Expanded use of the PPR virus vaccine may be required to help control the spread of the infection. Improved community-based prevention efforts may be effective for better control of trypanosomiasis and all these conditions.