Training Helps Curb Animal Disease in Croatia
An outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) could have extreme economic consequences for Croatia’s extensive livestock sector. Until recently, breeders, farmers and veterinarians did not have sufficient information on measures to prevent an outbreak.
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Visitors at the livestock fair in the Town of Pleternica watch the first tractor cross over to the newly built disinfection barrier
Photo Credit: Vlasta Nejasmic, World Learning |
Miroslav Kovac, Department Head and Livestock Advisor at the Croatian Agricultural Extension Institute in the Pozesko-Slavonska County was among many farmers, veterinarians, ministry officials and other professionals that attended a USAID-funded study tour to the United Kingdom to learn how they dealt with the FMD epidemic in 2001. The study tour introduced them to prevention methods such as risk analysis, surveillance strategies emergency preparedness and contingency planning.
Kovac quickly put what he had learned into practice. In the town of Pleternica, Kovac helped build a disinfection barrier at the entrance of the livestock market. This new facility now protects thousands of livestock from the devastating effects of infectious animal diseases. He also raised awareness among veterinarians and breeders on disease prevention systems at roundtable discussions, distributed informative leaflets, disbursed 50 smaller disinfection barriers to farmers and breeders, and helped six families build disinfection barriers at their farms.
Kovac proved that once provided with information and basic practical skills, people will actively take the necessary measures to reduce the risk of disease outbreak—and many of the farmers and breeders he has talked to have followed his lead.
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