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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
The mass vaccination campaign against Newcastle, a serious poultry disease, is pushing on, with the Department of Veterinary Services making 16 million doses of vaccine to protect all chickens in rural areas, the department’s chief director Dr Josphat Nyika has said.
Last month there were reports that some farmers in Goromonzi lost considerable numbers of chickens due to Newcastle, making the production of the vaccine timely.
“All chickens in rural areas need to be vaccinated as part of the drive to grow the rural poultry industry,” said Dr Nyika. “We are going to vaccinate all village chickens in the rural areas against Newcastle disease and 16 million doses are already produced.
“We have also produced vaccines to control tick borne diseases and so far we have produced 100 000 doses of theileriosis to fight January disease.” Dr Nyika said Newcastle vaccinations will help to improve livelihoods, especially for smallholder farmers.
Government is committed to the production of livestock for domestic and export markets and ensuring food and nutrition security.
Newcastle is a disease that is characterised by nervous symptoms and pneumonia in poultry. It can wipe out entire flocks in a very short time, and chickens need to be vaccinated against it. This disease is caused by a diverse group of viruses. The milder strains are endemic in the United States, while highly virulent strains are found in Africa and Asian countries.
The highly virulent form of Newcastle disease is one of the most important poultry diseases worldwide. Chickens are particularly susceptible, and may experience morbidity and mortality rates of up to 100 percent.
Outbreaks of virulent Newcastle disease have a tremendous impact on backyard chicken industries, especially in developing countries, where these birds are a significant source of protein and this disease is endemic.
It is the most important poultry disease in Southern Africa. It is highly contagious, which means that it spreads rapidly among chickens infecting a large number of birds within a short time.
It has a high death rate such that a farmer can wake up to find 50 birds dead overnight.
It affects any kind of poultry farmers from smallholder, communal to large scale. The virus can live for some time outside chickens and the disease can be spread by the movement of poultry, people, equipment and poultry products from one area to another.
Affected chickens rapidly become weak and often die without showing any signs.
However, some signs may include depression which is characterised by a chicken with a dull “mood” and is not lively.
The chicken may also have ruffled feathers as compared to a generally smooth plumage of healthy birds.
Layers will experience a sudden and significant drop in egg production.
Online Reporter