Slaughter Facilities in East Africa as a Focus for One Health

Abstract

While studying the transmission of zoonotic infection in western Kenya, and surveying animals at slaughter to gain insights into disease prevalence, we developed a community-requested programme to understand the occupational risks to which slaughter facility workers are exposed. This led to a series of linked investigations focused on human and animal health centred on the slaughter facility, and a number of public health interventions targeting workers. Here, we summarize the different aspects of this work and the importance of engaging with different sections of the community. We illustrate how the work has integrated an understanding of the slaughter facility microenvironment, human and animal health, and pathogen surveillance within the food system. © The Authors 2023