Brucellosis control in Mongolia

In Mongolia, livestock rearing and milk production are important components of the economy, employing approximately 50% of the population. Since the 1940s, the traditional adaptive strategies in livestock herding were replaced by an imposed collective production system. In 1991, the livestock production system began the transition from socialist production methods to market-based economic principles. As a result, private herding households are no longer members of a producer organisation and are fully responsible for obtaining goods and services. In the 1970s, mass vaccination of livestock against brucellosis successfully reduced the incidence of human brucellosis. Following political transition, when the country shifted from dependence on the former Soviet Union in 1990, human brucellosis re-emerged as a major, but preventable, source of illness. A large survey conducted in 1990-1995 among herdsmen and others working with animals showed that 16% of those examined were infected with brucellosis.

The central issue addressed in this research is to determine whether there is any relationship between stated policy, control strategy, and the incidence of human brucellosis in Mongolia. The changes in health policy, public services, governance and livestock production system will be analysed to assess their influence on the surveillance of this disease and the impact on the epidemiological development of brucellosis.

There is a lack of analysis of the possible relationship between applied policies and strategies and the epidemiology of brucellosis in Mongolia. Therefore, this research will contribute to the better understanding of these policies and their effectiveness in controlling this disease. We will provide empirical evidence about the epidemiological development of animal brucellosis and human brucellosis in Mongolia from 1966 to 2003. The prevalence in animals will be fitted to the incidence in humans and discussed. The strategies and policies applied for controlling brucellosis in Mongolia since 1966 will be outlined and analysed. The impact of the transition in the 1990s in terms of privatisation of the flocks and veterinarian services will be explored. The policy on brucellosis control and the spread of this disease will be brought together and possible interactions will be analysed. Lessons learnt from the observation of brucellosis control will be elaborated upon with particular focus on surveillance, monitoring, governance, management, finance and communication. Conclusions derived from the development of the epidemiology and the lessons learnt for further surveillance policy will be formulated. These will be summed up for scientific work, policy, for funding and governance.

Contact address Swiss organization

Felix Roth, lic. rer. pol.
Swiss Tropical Institute
Swiss Center for International Health
P.O. Box
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland

Tel.: +41 – 61 – 284 82 88
Fax: +41 – 61 – 271 86 54
E-mail: felix.roth@unibas.ch

Contact address Mongolian organization:

Myagmarjav Nansalmaa, M.D., Ph.D,
Mongolian Academy of Sciences
International Project Coordinator
P.O. Box-8
Post Office 20A
Ulaanbataar – 210620
Mongolia

Tel.: +976 – 11 – 32 38 72
Fax: +976 – 11 – 32 19 93
E-mail: apvcw@magicnet.mn