adminGOVERNMENT has received an undisclosed quantity of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines from the Food and Agricultural Organisation as it moves to contain the spread of the contagious viral disease being accelerated by the illegal movement of livestock from affected areas.
In an interview in Bulawayo, Livestock and Veterinary Services Department principal director Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu, however, conceded that the vaccines were not enough to cover all affected areas as the outbreak was spreading.
“We have been supported by FAO to get some vaccines but we are expecting new outbreaks. We had planned to contain earlier outbreaks and we were given support for that but it may not be enough for new outbreaks,” Dr Ushewokunze-Obatolu said.
She said FMD remained a priority disease, which required both national and international attention.
“The problem is that we are facing a lot of challenges with irregular movement. People are moving animals at night without permits. Some of them claim that they have police permits. A police permit alone does not give them the authority to move (animals).
“The Veterinary Department already knows which animals to move. If they shouldn’t move they should respect that because when it spreads it becomes a Government responsibility. As you know now there are no resources and it is very difficult to control a disease like that which is viral and contagious, it’s extremely impossible,” Dr Ushewokunze-Obatolu said.
The veterinary expert said efforts by the Veterinary Department to contain FMD were becoming financially strenuous as it had spread from its hot spots, which are areas around wildlife sanctuaries to previously unaffected places.
“Those areas around national parks, that’s where we normally expect it to happen. Now it has come out of that and gone to new areas further afield and it becomes a lot more difficult especially now when we are stressed for human capacity and logistical support like vehicles, fuel and then vaccines.”
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for livestock production Cde Paddy Zhanda said Government was on high alert as FMD had a negative economic impact on farmers and the country as a whole.
“We are taking normal measures, when there is an outbreak we create a corridor and have a barrier. We also vaccinate the other animals on the other side. The challenge is the issue of vaccination but I think we have dealt with it.
“We now have a lot of vaccines coming in and I think we will be able to contain the situation. The other challenge beside vaccination is the illegal movement of cattle by some unscrupulous people, that’s where the biggest challenge is,” Cde Zhanda said.
In April the Veterinary Department said about 2,5 million of the country’s cattle were in danger of being affected by FMD amid reports that $20 million was needed to vaccinate the animals mostly in the southern parts of the country.
The first case of FMD in the country was clinically detected on 16 August 2000 in a cattle feedlot in south-western Zimbabwe.
Emerging indications point to the fact that there are two sources of infection in the Zimbabwe outbreaks, both originating from the African buffalo species.
FMD is a se gious viral disease of livestock with significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle and swine as well as sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. All species of deer and antelope as well as elephant, and giraffe are susceptible to FMD.
In a susceptible population, morbidity approaches 100 percent. Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds. The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals but there is often high mortality in young animals due to myocarditis or by lack of milk when the dam is infected by the disease.
FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. The disease causes severe production losses and while most affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them debilitated.
Online Reporter