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COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT TAKES KEY ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ISSUES IN ARMENIA
Dell Rae Moellenberg, [email protected]
US Fed News
December 16, 2008 Tuesday 6:11 AM EST
Colorado State University issued the following press release:
A veterinary student in Colorado State University's College of
Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is playing a key role in
international health and trade. The student, Litto Suu, is helping
to establish a national animal health program in Armenia along with
Dr. Mo Salman, professor in the college and expert in international
veterinary medicine affairs.
Salman and Suu, along with an Armenian and U.S. Department of
Agriculture team members, tested animals in two villages, Aragatsavan
and Nor Yer Znka, and then provided education to farmers there about
the diseases that were present in their animals.
"Our goal is to establish sound and scientifically based national
animal health program in Armenia that includes the food safety issues,"
Salman said. For the past 30 years, Salman has been traveling and
sharing his expertise in countries throughout the world.
"Many of the farmers didn't know that so many of their animals
were infected with various diseases," Suu said. "By showing them the
prevalence of these diseases in their animals, especially brucellosis,
we were able to provide them with context to the importance of
preventative medicine in their herds."
The two diseases for which they tested in particular were
foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis. Brucellosis is a zoonotic
disease, which means that humans can contract it from infected
animals or animal products. Brucellosis is a disease that can cause
spontaneous abortion in animals. Testing for brucellosis is especially
important because of Armenia's cheese production industry. When spread
to humans, it causes remittent fever. If cheese is not pasteurized,
which it often is not in rural Armenian villages, the disease can be
passed from cheese to the humans who eat it.
The presence of foot-and-mouth disease in animals drastically limits
a country's trade options.
Suu had the opportunity to run two town hall meetings and provide
the results, brochures about consumer awareness and the importance of
preventative medicine to the surrounding community. The opportunity
for a student to have this much involvement in an international
program is rare.
"She was the best ambassador for CSU in Armenia," Salman said. He saw
that she worked well with many types of people and had a determination
and a willingness to learn that made her successful in Armenia.
"Although we can provide information to the villagers, the government
must play a major role in controlling these diseases," Suu said.
Salman is the university's point person for the cooperative agreement
between Colorado State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for this
project in Armenia. Salman and the team of researchers also reached out
to the Armenian government with information on animal health issues.
Salman hopes that Armenia will be able to trade animal and animal
products nationally and internationally with less risk of spreading
animal diseases, including those that can be transmitted to humans.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the USDA monitor food
and drug safety, but Armenia does not have an equivalent to those
organizations.
Suu found this opportunity to study abroad and apply her skills when
she heard Salman speak. Suu, 23, is grateful for the opportunity to
work in Armenia.
"She approached me after she listened to my campus wide presentation
related to our international involvement," Salman said. "She was eager
to be involved in international activities to increase her knowledge
about veterinary medicine and its application in developing countries."
"Being able to work with the farmers and learn first-hand about
epidemiology from Dr. Salman's team in a foreign country that
lacks strong disease control programs was a one-of-a-kind learning
opportunity for me," Suu said. "I enjoyed being able to work with
the local people and do work that related to my field."
Suu is originally from North East India in Nagaland. She has already
completed her undergraduate studies at Colorado State, and she decided
to attend Colorado State because of its renowned veterinary program.
Dell Rae Moellenberg, [email protected]
US Fed News
December 16, 2008 Tuesday 6:11 AM EST
Colorado State University issued the following press release:
A veterinary student in Colorado State University's College of
Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is playing a key role in
international health and trade. The student, Litto Suu, is helping
to establish a national animal health program in Armenia along with
Dr. Mo Salman, professor in the college and expert in international
veterinary medicine affairs.
Salman and Suu, along with an Armenian and U.S. Department of
Agriculture team members, tested animals in two villages, Aragatsavan
and Nor Yer Znka, and then provided education to farmers there about
the diseases that were present in their animals.
"Our goal is to establish sound and scientifically based national
animal health program in Armenia that includes the food safety issues,"
Salman said. For the past 30 years, Salman has been traveling and
sharing his expertise in countries throughout the world.
"Many of the farmers didn't know that so many of their animals
were infected with various diseases," Suu said. "By showing them the
prevalence of these diseases in their animals, especially brucellosis,
we were able to provide them with context to the importance of
preventative medicine in their herds."
The two diseases for which they tested in particular were
foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis. Brucellosis is a zoonotic
disease, which means that humans can contract it from infected
animals or animal products. Brucellosis is a disease that can cause
spontaneous abortion in animals. Testing for brucellosis is especially
important because of Armenia's cheese production industry. When spread
to humans, it causes remittent fever. If cheese is not pasteurized,
which it often is not in rural Armenian villages, the disease can be
passed from cheese to the humans who eat it.
The presence of foot-and-mouth disease in animals drastically limits
a country's trade options.
Suu had the opportunity to run two town hall meetings and provide
the results, brochures about consumer awareness and the importance of
preventative medicine to the surrounding community. The opportunity
for a student to have this much involvement in an international
program is rare.
"She was the best ambassador for CSU in Armenia," Salman said. He saw
that she worked well with many types of people and had a determination
and a willingness to learn that made her successful in Armenia.
"Although we can provide information to the villagers, the government
must play a major role in controlling these diseases," Suu said.
Salman is the university's point person for the cooperative agreement
between Colorado State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for this
project in Armenia. Salman and the team of researchers also reached out
to the Armenian government with information on animal health issues.
Salman hopes that Armenia will be able to trade animal and animal
products nationally and internationally with less risk of spreading
animal diseases, including those that can be transmitted to humans.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the USDA monitor food
and drug safety, but Armenia does not have an equivalent to those
organizations.
Suu found this opportunity to study abroad and apply her skills when
she heard Salman speak. Suu, 23, is grateful for the opportunity to
work in Armenia.
"She approached me after she listened to my campus wide presentation
related to our international involvement," Salman said. "She was eager
to be involved in international activities to increase her knowledge
about veterinary medicine and its application in developing countries."
"Being able to work with the farmers and learn first-hand about
epidemiology from Dr. Salman's team in a foreign country that
lacks strong disease control programs was a one-of-a-kind learning
opportunity for me," Suu said. "I enjoyed being able to work with
the local people and do work that related to my field."
Suu is originally from North East India in Nagaland. She has already
completed her undergraduate studies at Colorado State, and she decided
to attend Colorado State because of its renowned veterinary program.