Five diseases, one vaccine — a boost for emerging livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

Livestock diseases have a major impact on farmers’ lives in sub-Saharan Africa. South African and Canadian scientists are developing two livestock vaccines that will be affordable, heat-stable, and provide long-term protection against diseases.

The first vaccine is targeted at five important viral diseases affecting sheep, goats, and cattle using a single injection. A second vaccine is being developed that should — for the first time — provide vaccination protection for pigs against African swine fever.

The links between vaccine development and economic and social factors are also being studied, to evaluate the economic impacts and ensure the relevance and use of the new vaccines by small-scale farmers.

Read the story of change: Five diseases, one vaccine - a boost for emerging livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF, 885KB).

This document is one of nine in the Stories of Change series that shares some of the emerging gender outcomes from research supported in sub-Saharan Africa by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF). Produced by WRENmedia in March 2014.