Report a sick animal on WhatsApp
Herd Health is an animal-disease early-warning project for rural South Africa. When farmers and communities send a message, the animal health team can see where sickness is starting.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp. Write in the language you are most comfortable with.
- Tell us what you see. The kind of animal, how many are sick or dead, the signs, and where they are.
- Send a photo if you can. It helps the animal health technician understand faster.
- A technician looks at it. Animal health technicians read the reports and record what they find.
- Patterns become clear. Reports from many places show where disease may be spreading.
A good photo helps
- The whole animal.
- The part that looks sick.
- Any ear tag or mark.
No camera, or no data? Send your report anyway. A photo is welcome, never required.
Please note
Herd Health is an automated assistant for the animal health team. It is not a person and not a vet, and it gives no treatment advice. If an animal is very sick or you need advice now, contact your vet or your state veterinary office.
Your information
- We keep your WhatsApp number, your name if you give it, where the animals are, and what you send us, including photos and voice notes.
- The team and its supporters can see it: eco rangers, animal health technicians and the project office. A reporter's number is shown only to the people working on that report.
- Some of it is read by computer services outside South Africa to understand your message.
- Reports that add up the numbers for many cases combine small groups, so one report cannot be picked out.
- You can ask us to stop, or to remove your details, at any time. Tell the assistant, or contact the team.
For the Herd Health team
Technicians, rangers and operators sign in to the dashboard with their own account.
Team sign in