Foot and mouth hits Mat South

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
MATABELELAND South Province has been hit by a foot and mouth outbreak amid concerns that the province is facing a shortage of vaccines. The first case of foot and mouth in Matabeleland South was detected early February this year in Insiza District.

Hundreds of cattle in Insiza district infected with the foot and mouth disease have been affected by the shortage of vaccines, raising fears among farmers that the disease was likely to spread to other areas.

“Our fear is that our cattle are also at risk of getting infected because of the shortage of vaccines. We hope the problem will be attended to urgently to save our animals,” said a farmer from Manzamhlophe area in Insiza.

Matabeleland South provincial principal veterinary officer Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the shortage of foot and mouth vaccines had been a draw back in the fight against the disease.

He, however, said Insiza District has been put under quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading to other areas.

“The disease is spreading from Mberengwa and has affected animals in Insiza District. There are seven dip tanks that have got foot and mouth in Insiza. The challenge we have is that of a shortage of vaccines. However, we’ve just put the district under quarantine. There is no movement of cattle in and out of the district. We want to make sure that the disease does not spread further,” he said.

Dr Mdlongwa said morbidity was very high while mortality was low.

He said young animals may die due to the disease whereas adult animals may recover but were not likely to regain productivity.

“Consumption of meat or milk of an infected animal is not a threat to human health. The disease results in reduced livestock productivity,” said Dr Mdlongwa.

The disease causes fever and blisters on the feet and mouth of infected animals making it difficult for animals to eat and move around.

Dr Mdlongwa said although there was a shortage of vaccines, vaccination was done at some diptanks along the boundary with Mberengwa.

Insiza and Mberengwa share the same border while in some areas farmers from both districts also share the same diptanks.

To date, a total of 395 cattle in Insiza district have been affected by the disease but no cattle have died.

Dr Mdlongwa said frantic efforts were being made to source the vaccines.

Foot and mouth disease affects animals like sheep, antelope, cattle and goats, among others. The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.