Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
MORE than 400 cattle have succumbed to tick-borne disease commonly known as January disease in the Midlands province since the beginning of the year amid indications there is a new variant of ticks affecting the livestock.
Illegal livestock movements are hampering efforts to contain the disease. The most affected districts are Shurugwi, Mberengwa, Mvuma and Gweru. Midlands Provincial Veterinary Services director, Dr Martin Sibanda, said the disease was common during the rainy season.
“Farmers in the province have lost more than 400 cattle to the tick-borne disease since the beginning of the year despite a robust Government driven community sustainability dipping programme,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said there seems to be a new variant of tick-borne disease, which they are still monitoring. “What is giving headaches to veterinary officers is that there seems to be a new variant of ticks, which is common in areas that receive high rainfall which was not common in the province,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said illegal cattle movements by farmers were hampering efforts to contain the tick-borne disease.
“Farmers are illegally moving cattle across the province thereby making it difficult to contain the outbreak of this tick-born disease,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said the ticks that have invaded the province are common in Mashonaland West and Central provinces that receive high rainfall.
He said due to the illegal movements of cattle, they suspect that the ticks are being imported from other provinces.
Online Reporter