Expert opinion : Fighting COVID-19 : a veterinary perspective

Abstract

As a veterinary professional with experience in disease control, I have been following the various measures implemented by the South African government as we attempt to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unfortunate that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Department of Health, and the Cabinet, have to date not involved the veterinary profession in soliciting inputs and advice on how to manage the pandemic. There are a number of veterinary experts (veterinary epidemiologists, virologists and disease control experts) whose skills gained from dealing with various pandemics in the animal health field, such as rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, could be useful in the fight against COVID-19. Luckily it is not too late for government to consider involving a core team of veterinary experts, even if as a sub-committee of the NCCC.