30 Mar 2022

The African Union (AU) has recognised Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) for its contribution to Rinderpest eradication. 

Briefing BOPA about the award yesterday, BVI general manager, Mr Andrew Madeswi said  he received the certificate of appreciation in Nairobi, Kenya some two weeks ago.

The certificate was presented during the AU Inter-African Bureau for Animal Health 70th anniversary commemoration which coincided with the marking of Rinderpest eradication 10th anniversary.

Mr Madeswi explained that as an animal health vaccine manufacturer,  BVI played a critical role in the eradication of Rinderpest, a highly contagious virus transmitted among cloven-hoofed animals.

“We started by supplying 100 million doses of high-quality Rinderpest vaccines over decades through our Pestobov 100 shot,” he said.

Mr Madeswi said BVI later provided an improved vaccine called Pestobov-50T which could be kept outside refrigeration while maintaining its potency.

The organisation adopted advancement that took into account Africa’s land characteristics and extreme temperatures, he said.

He said the disease was eradicated through a vaccination programme and close monitoring which meant that most countries had to formulate plans.

Mr Madeswi pointed out that African countries were vast and most livestock was found in remote areas. 

The disease was said to be so cruel that it killed an animal  within 10 days through ulceration on soft tissues such as tongues and eyes, causing diarrhoea and loss of appetite, he said.

Mr Madeswi said once a kraal was infected 90–100 per cent mortality would be registered.

The general manager said the disease affected the continent at a time when African livelihoods were dependent on rearing livestock for a living.

Citing the virus’s impact in Sudan, he said it caused the introduction of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP) which was well supported through laboratories like BVI.

“The programme was indeed a success and on reflection 10 years later we now see BVI being recognised for taking part in such a noble course,” he explained

Mr Madeswi revealed the existence of another disease almost similar in characteristics to Rinderpest called Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).

Though not common in Southern Africa but prevalent in the eastern,  western and upper parts of the continent, PPR, was a cause for concern, he said.

The March 18 event also saw the launch of the second Pan Africa Peste des Petits Ruminants five–year plan (PPR 2022-2026).

He said it was important for BVI to be part of the launch in order to ready itself for PPR eradication as it was amongst the leaders in PPR vaccine production having started producing it in 1998.

“BVI is primed for the eradication of the second disease as it was one of the first laboratories in the world to develop a thermotolerant PPR vaccine that could be kept out of refrigeration at 40 degrees Celsius for five days. 

This improvement on the regular vaccine will ensure access to potent vaccines to the hardest to reach areas, especially within the African continent,” BVI says in a statement.

It says BVI has capacity to produce 100 million doses of PPR vaccine annually.

The organisation planned to spread its wings to harness the already existing market presented by the upper parts of Africa, said Mr Madeswi. Ends