Citizens are at risk of contracting infectious diseases from cows, says the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Food Production Richard Madray.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Animal Disease Recognition and Response Training, at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Madray said a Zoonotic Task Force was attempting to manage the problem.
(A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed between animals and humans.)
He was addressing participants and stakeholders at the One Health, One Caribbean, One Love Project workshop which was extended to several countries and funded by the European Union.
"T&T is facing an emerging problem with brucellosis in cattle and water buffalo. Thus, a Zoonotic Task Force has already been established with the representatives from the ministry," he said.
The task force will identify priority diseases threatening animals and public health that are of trade significance, with a view to addressing them through the drafting and implementation of national policies and plans.
It is also tasked with recommending the relevant legislative changes required to implement policies and strategies and clearly define the role of each agency, he said.
Madray said, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health, about 70 per cent of emerging diseases affecting humans were transmitted from animals.
He said veterinary services in disease recognition and response were crucial for human health and food security.
Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, said there was a growing concern over swine fever.
"FAO is aware and concerned that a few transboundary and notifiable animal diseases such as classical swine fever are still present in the Caribbean region and continue to threaten food security and the livelihoods of Caribbean people," she said.
Fletcher-Paul said the workshop was held to strengthen the ability of the veterinary services and stakeholders in the private sector to recognise, diagnose and respond to animal and zoonotic disease threats.