Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Zimpapers Reporter
THE Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Matabeleland South has urged farmers to take up the Bolvac vaccine, which provides lifelong immunity against January Disease (Theileriosis), amid concern over the low uptake of the vaccine in one of the country’s worst-affected provinces.
In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the province has about 8 000 doses of the vaccine, which remain largely untaken despite improved compliance with the recommended dipping regime.
“While the situation regarding January Disease has generally improved, there is still a serious concern about the low uptake of the Bolvac vaccine. By this time, we would have preferred all the available doses to have been taken up by farmers, especially in hotspot areas,” he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said Umzingwane and Insiza districts remain the main hotspots for the January Disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the protozoan Theileria, which usually intensifies during the rainy season.
January Disease has historically been a major cause of economic losses, particularly in Matabeleland South, which is predominantly a cattle-rearing province.
Dr Mdlongwa said the province was now recording significantly fewer cattle deaths compared to 2022 and 2023, attributing the improvement to better adherence to dipping programmes.
“Deaths are now relatively low because farmers have improved in dipping their animals. However, vaccinating cattle has an added advantage because it provides lifetime immunity against January Disease,” he said.
Before recent outbreaks, Dr Mdlongwa said most districts were recording about 50 percent compliance in dipping, but some areas have now improved to around 90 percent.
He urged farmers who were still lagging behind to strictly adhere to the dipping regime, warning that tick-borne diseases increase sharply during the rainy season.
Farmers in January Disease hotspot areas were reminded to follow the 5-5-4 dipping regime, while those in other areas are required to dip their animals weekly up to April.
Under the 5-5-4 system, animals are dipped after five days, dipped again after another five days, and then after four days, before reverting to the five-day cycle.
“We are in the wet season, when tick activity is very high. Diseases such as January Disease, redwater, gall sickness and sweating sickness pose a serious threat to livestock,” said Dr Mdlongwa.
He said if farmers take heed of this advice, they will be able to avert losses.
“If one farmer fails to dip their animals, the entire province can be severely affected. A single tick can lay more than 2 000 eggs, which can rapidly spread across an entire herd,” said Dr Mdlongwa.
“That is why it is critical that all animals are dipped. Leaving even one animal out renders the whole process ineffective.”
Dr Mdlongwa said the Government, under the Second Republic, has put measures in place to ensure farmers can access dip tanks within reasonable distances.
He urged traditional leaders to closely supervise dipping programmes and take action against farmers who fail to comply with regulations.
“The Government has relaxed legislation that required each dip tank to service 500 cattle. This has resulted in more dip tanks being constructed, while some have been rehabilitated to reduce distances travelled by animals,” said Dr Mdlongwa.
In some communities, farmers have taken the initiative to construct dip tanks themselves, a move Dr Mdlongwa said should be encouraged.
“If we come together as a province, we can preserve our cattle herd. Farmers must also pay the dipping levy to ensure a consistent supply of dip chemicals,” he said.
The Department of Veterinary Services continues to conduct awareness campaigns on disease prevention and control.
Livestock production remains a critical component of livelihoods for most Zimbabweans, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, employment and economic growth.
The Bolvac vaccine was first produced by the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in 1989, using a local Theileria parva strain.
Production was discontinued in the late 1990s due to technical and financial challenges but resumed in 2022 following Government support and partner-funded training.
The CVL produced its first batch of about 20 000 doses on August 20, 2022, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against January Disease.
@DubeMatutu
