Disease strikes Mbarara livestock
Jan 05, 2005
FOOT and mouth disease has broken out in Nyabushozi and Isingiro counties in Mbarara, the district veterinary officer, Dr. John Lewis Barigye, has said.<br>He said on Tuesday that the affected areas were Nyakashashara and Kabingo sub-counties.<br>
By Ebenezer Bifubyeka
FOOT and mouth disease has broken out in Nyabushozi and Isingiro counties in Mbarara, the district veterinary officer, Dr. John Lewis Barigye, has said.
He said on Tuesday that the affected areas were Nyakashashara and Kabingo sub-counties.
“In order to stop the spread of this disease, we have quarantined the infected sub-counties and closed down Karengo market,†he said.
Barigye said they had started vaccinating animals in Rurambira parish in Nyakashashara and Kagarama parish in Kabingo.
“We have vaccinated about 6,000 head of cattle in the affected areas and 30,000 more are to be vaccinated,†he said.
He added that no deaths had been reported.
Barigye called upon farmers, local defence unit personnel and local leaders to control animal movements and to put up structures in which their animals will be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the East African Community has introduced a policy of branding cattle for easy identity and control of movement in a bid to check the spread of diseases and rustling.
This was disclosed recently by Mbarara production coordinator Beatrice Byarugaba, while presenting the 2005/2006 – 2007/2008 budget at a conference held at the faculty of development studies in Mbarara University.
“There have been frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases due to free cross border movement of livestock,†she said.
Ends
FOOT and mouth disease has broken out in Nyabushozi and Isingiro counties in Mbarara, the district veterinary officer, Dr. John Lewis Barigye, has said.
He said on Tuesday that the affected areas were Nyakashashara and Kabingo sub-counties.
“In order to stop the spread of this disease, we have quarantined the infected sub-counties and closed down Karengo market,†he said.
Barigye said they had started vaccinating animals in Rurambira parish in Nyakashashara and Kagarama parish in Kabingo.
“We have vaccinated about 6,000 head of cattle in the affected areas and 30,000 more are to be vaccinated,†he said.
He added that no deaths had been reported.
Barigye called upon farmers, local defence unit personnel and local leaders to control animal movements and to put up structures in which their animals will be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the East African Community has introduced a policy of branding cattle for easy identity and control of movement in a bid to check the spread of diseases and rustling.
This was disclosed recently by Mbarara production coordinator Beatrice Byarugaba, while presenting the 2005/2006 – 2007/2008 budget at a conference held at the faculty of development studies in Mbarara University.
“There have been frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases due to free cross border movement of livestock,†she said.
Ends