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Posted: 14th November 2014

UK bids £20.5m to tackle worldwide zoonoses
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It is estimated that between 2000 and 2010, zoonotic diseases incurred direct costs of £20 billion across the globe.
Animal and human health sectors come together to fight disease

Six organisations have joined forces, pooling £20.5 million for the fight against zoonotic diseases. Funding has been awarded to 19 UK research institutions and more than 30 overseas.

The Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) programme launched this week in Westminster. Over the next five years it will fund 11 projects in Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, drawing together the animal and human health sectors.

In addition, 15 doctoral students from the UK and developing countries will be trained in ZELS-related research, thanks to funding of £1.5 million.

The programme has been funded by the Department for International Development, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and five UK research councils; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council.

It is estimated that between 2000 and 2010, zoonotic diseases incurred direct costs of £20 billion across the globe, and indirect costs of £200 billion.

It is hoped that through a collaboration of world-class scientists, the project may improve animal health and welfare and enhance the lives of millions of people.

BBSRC's science director Melanie Welham said: "Zoonoses not only threaten animal and human health, but have huge economic and social repercussions around the world.

"The ZELS programme will fund world-class research projects, using expertise from the UK and international partners, to address some of the critical challenges posed by zoonotic diseases.

"In addition, training doctoral students from the UK and developing countries will help create the skills needed for researchers to continue to tackle these damaging diseases".

Baroness Northover, parliamentary under-secretary of state for international development, added: "Smallholder farmers in the developing world who depend on their livestock to earn a living are hit twice by these diseases.

"Not only do they lose their income when animals become infected, they and their families are then at risk of becoming sick themselves.

"The new funding is an important step towards controlling the spread and reducing the impact of some of the most prevalent of these diseases. It will protect the livelihoods and the health of millions and the health of millions of families in the developing world and boost economic growth in 11 of the world's poorest countries".

For more information about the projects, visit: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2014/141110-pr-20m-combat-animal-diseases-to-humans.aspx



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