Government launches blitz on tick-borne diseases

The Government is rolling out the Integrated Tick Borne Disease Control strategy countrywide in a bid to curb cattle deaths, a development that has seen Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces receiving significant amounts of dipping chemicals.

In Zimbabwe, statistics show that more than 65 percent of cattle deaths are caused by tick-borne diseases which include a January Disease, Red Water, Heart Water and Gall Sicknes.

In an update, Acting Chief Director in the Department of Veterinary Services, Dr Pious Makaya said:

“In Zimbabwe we have adopted what we call the Integrated Tick Borne Disease Control Strategy.

“Besides dipping which is the primary control strategy which is very effective in controlling ticks, science has come up with new innovation to complement dipping.

“Over the years we have realised that there are some breakthroughs of tick-borne diseases even after dipping. We have come up with a new innovation to complete dipping.”

Dr Makaya said in order to make sure that cattle are safe even after dipping, a follow-up method has been developed.

“We decided to come up with innovations to complement dipping. You may find that after dipping, ticks may remain biting the animals and not removed because of resistance.

“So, we want to test the dip wash to make sure what is written by the manufacturer on the use of that specific dipping chemical is actually what is happening at the dip tank,”he said.

Dr Makaya said farmers need to identify which of the four diseases affect their cattle in order to apply the right chemical.

“During the rainy season, we have a high tick challenge resulting in a high risk of cattle being infected. It is important to confirm the disease affecting the cattle out of the four and implement control strategies.

“Currently we have three vaccines for four major diseases, that is Gall Sickness, Red Water and January Disease which we are doing national field trials to make sure the vaccine is used countrywide and confirm its safety and efficacy.

“So far we have managed to use the Bovine vaccine in the trial period covering six provinces.”

Dr Makaya said during this season, the trials are for free and farmers would be asked to fill in consent forms.

“Now that we have the three vaccines, we are implementing the strategy which is composed of three major components which include strategic dipping, monitoring the resistance in ticks and administering the vaccines.

“We have managed to vaccinate more than 45 000 cattle across the six provinces we have intervened in. We were targeting hotspots in each province and we are leaving doses of vaccines in each provincial office.

“In Matabeleland North and South we left around 11 000 doses (per province) and 15 000 doses in the Midlands.

“We have enough dipping chemicals for the next two months and we are in the process of procuring more dipping chemicals,” he said.

Cattle dipping remains the single most effective control measure against all ticks and tick-borne diseases, hence the need to remind farmers that dipping of cattle is mandatory by law and cattle should be dipped at least once a week to control ticks and tick-borne diseases during the rainy season.

January Disease is a notifiable disease in Zimbabwe and if a farmer suspects it on his/her farm, he/she is compelled by law to report this to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).

January Disease usually affects cattle. It is common between December and March.

However, of late it has been known to occur all year round but increases significantly as from November, reaching a peak in January.

The disease is controlled through legislation, Animal Health (Theileriosis) Regulations, 1976.

In the event of an outbreak, a quarantine order is instituted for 28 days with a 5-5-4 dipping interval effected concurrently with the application of tick grease during that period.