Livestock diseases are currently considered as a major barrier to trade for livestock products from Kenya and other sub-Saharan African counties to the World markets, and therefore they contribute directly to loss of income both to the farming communities and the nations through reduced income and loss of foreign exchange earnings, respectively.

Veterinary Public Health (VPH) is a component of public health activities devoted to the application of professional veterinary skills, knowledge and resources to the protection and improvement of human health.  The role of public health in the global health agenda is to promote activities that contribute to the improvement of health for all and help realize its objectives. A number of changes are taking place in the world over and these have their own consequences that may require the attention of VPH.