Madagascar - locust emergency

FAO situation update No.2 -- The rainy season – which is now starting slowly and will last until April 2011 – favors rapid multiplication of the migratory locust in its traditional south western distribution area and beyond. At least three generations can successively occur, each of them multiplying the locust population...

Deadly animal virus threatens to spread to southern Africa

A deadly viral disease which broke out in Tanzania earlier this year risks spreading to Southern Africa, posing a mortal threat to more than 50 million sheep and goats in 15 countries, FAO warned today.

Known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (Small Ruminants' Plague), or PPR, it is considered as the...

Campaign against deadly cattle plague ending

An ambitious global effort that has brought rinderpest, a deadly cattle plague, to the brink of extinction is ending all field activities, paving the way for official eradication of the disease.

It would be the first time in history that humankind has succeeded in wiping out an animal disease...

Madagascar - locust emergency

FAO situation update No.1 -- Food security in Madagascar is under imminent and severe threat from increasing number of swarms of migratory locust. These insects can ruin harvests and destroy livelihoods by devastating crops. Controlling an upsurge already underway can require years and hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Locusts are...

U.S. and FAO continue joint battle against infectious disease threats

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is renewing its support of FAO's efforts to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other emerging infectious diseases, the UN agency announced today. USAID's commitment totals US$26.3 million for the period running from October 2011 to September 2012.

The funds...

Locust swarms threaten agriculture in Madagascar

Madagascar is at risk of a significant plague of crop-eating locusts, FAO warned today.

An unknown number of immature swarms of Malagasy Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria capito) have formed up and moved out of the country's south-western corner, where they are usually contained, and have begun to spread...

Improved disease prevention in animal health could save billions of dollars

Governments could save billions of dollars by stepping up the prevention and control of high impact animal diseases, some of which pose a direct threat to human health, FAO said today.
 
Many other animal diseases have a negative impact on people's livelihoods. Pandemic influenza viruses H5N1 and H1N1, foot-and-mouth disease,...

International experts limit Melamine levels in food

The maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula is 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed is 2.5 mg/kg, according to new rulings from the United Nations' food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Melamine is a chemical used in a variety...

Wheat rust tracking site launched

FAO has launched a new website to track the advance of Ug99 the devastating strain of wheat stem rust disease and other wheat rusts amid concern the fungus is on the march across Africa and could head toward South Asia.

The aim of “Rust SPORE” is to...

FAO warns of increased foot-and-mouth threats

FAO today urged heightened international surveillance against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following three recent incursions in Japan and South Korea.

“We are worried because the rigorous biosecurity measures in place in the two countries were overwhelmed, pointing to a recent, large-scale weight of infection in source areas, very probably...