Disease kills 35 cattle

Animal Health Inspector in the Department of Veterinary Services Mrs Theresa Mushayakuva confirmed the deaths of the cattle.

She said she could not give any figures as investigations were still in progress.
“There are several reports of deaths of cattle and more are still coming. At the moment we have not yet established the exact number of cattle that have died from this outbreak but we have started working to deal with the disease,” Mrs Mushayakuva said.

The skin disease also known as Senkobo, after a village in Zambia where it is believed to have originated, had also affected areas in the Zambezi Valley, Binga, Gokwe and Sanyati.

“It originated from a village in Zambia and spread towards the Zambezi Valley before spreading to other areas and now to Chegutu where we also have reports that it killed some cattle,” she said.

A team of livestock technicians from the veterinary department has since been deployed in Chegutu.
When the Herald crew arrived in the area last Friday, the officers were injecting the cattle with Bimectin and long acting penicillin at Mopane dip tank.
“We have treated over 500 cattle since morning and we will continue this treatment programme in other areas,” a livestock technician Mr Zivanai Paradza said.