Online Reporter
Judith Phiri Sunday News Reporter
THE launch of the MEVAC LSD vaccine, a live attenuated monovalent vaccine for the immunisation of cattle against lumpy skin disease virus, has been lauded as a major milestone in strengthening
Zimbabwe’s livestock health and protecting the national herd from the devastating disease.
This was revealed yesterday at the Lumpy Skin Disease Field Day Vaccine Launch at the Pilossof Ruvale Brah-mans, Matopos Research Station Farm run by the Pilossof family in Matopos, Matabeleland South.
The vaccine which is being rolled out in the country was registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) in February 2025 and Zimbabwe received its first batch in August 2025. Manufactured by an American company Kemin, it is being distributed around the country by Chems Africa Private Limited.
Speaking at the event, independent veterinary contractor, Dr Maverlous Sibanda said the vaccine came at a critical to protect farmers that had been affected by lumpy skin disease which has significant effects on Zimbabwe’s cattle sector.
“Severe outbreaks can result in cattle mortality, reduced milk production as infected dairy and beef cows can experience substantial reductions in milk yield. There is also weight loss and poor condition because fever, painful skin lesions and reduced appetite can cause animals to lose body condition, reducing their value for beef production,” he said.
“Some cattle experience infertility and abortions as the disease can reduce fertility in both bulls and cows affecting herd reproduction. At the end of the day, farmers incur expenses for veterinary treatment, disease control and management of affected animals.”
He said in Zimbabwe, outbreaks tend to increase during the rainy season because biting insects which transmit the virus become more abundant.
For vaccination phases against the disease, Dr Sibanda said phase one was ring vaccination as the initial im-mediate response to the outbreak.
“The live attenuated Neethling strain vaccine is administered to control the lumpy skin disease outbreak by ring vaccination. Ring vaccination should be targeted to all susceptible animals in a delineated area surrounding the outbreak and should be started soon after detection of the first case,” he added.
“Phase two is widespread vaccination, after phase one, the vaccination programme should be rapidly scaled up. Initially areas where there were outbreaks, must be prioritised with 80 percent coverage of the cattle popu-lation. Other areas need to be assessed individually, and vaccination programmes determined on a local ba-sis.”
Dr Sibanda said blanket vaccination, with vaccination of all susceptible animals in an area or province can be also employed, while additional measures were effective insect repellants, reducing insect breeding grounds and raising biosecurity to the highest level.
Former Matabeleland North Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr Polex Moyo commended the vaccine stating that so far there were more positives.
“Animals can be vaccinated from an early age, as per advice from your veterinarian. This vaccine can also be used during pregnancy which is one of the positives which makes it favourable for farmers,” he said.
“It provides up to 88 percent to 100 percent effectiveness in reducing the risk of disease and managing out-breaks. Fast immunity starts working in 10 days, with full protection achieved after 21 days, while it offers at least one full year of immunity with a single annual booster dose.”
