Foot and mouth disease hits Mash provinces

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease has hit Mashonaland provinces attributing the spread to emanate from across the country’s borders and illegal movement of livestock, it has been learnt.

Zvimba district veterinary officer, Reverend Sango, told Speaking at the recent business forum held in Bulawayo that there has been an outbreak in Mashonaland Central a Mashonaland East.

“And the main drivers that we are facing have been trans-boundaries spread. There are infections from our neighboring countries or from our country to neighbouring countries, “ Sango said.

He also said the January disease, also known as theileriosis, which is transmitted by ticks and is more prevalent during the rainy season, was similarly a problem.

The disease was responsible for about 60% of annual losses in livestock.

Sango said the illegal movements of livestock have been responsible for probably 80% of our outbreaks.

“And this has been a major challenge for us. I think this year alone we have destroyed about 87 cattle and four goats just bury or burn them to try and detour would be offenders to move their animals illegally,” he said.

Sango said there is a lack of vaccines to contain the disease.

“Normally we have to quickly contain the outbreak using vaccinations but they are imported from Botswana.

The Veterinary Services Department has previously noted that more than ZWL$20m was needed to vaccinate animals mostly in the southern parts of the country.

“We don’t have vaccines and the outbreak spreads, and that has been one of our major challenges.

Sango said Zimbabwe has a high number of buffaloes, which has also resulted in the spread of the disease as they interact with cattle.

“…we had an outbreak in Nkayi district in Matabeleland North Province and Matobo in Matabeleland South Province. All those came from buffalo- cattle interactions because of damaged fences in communities,” he said.

The foot and mouth disease is an internationally listed or notifiable disease and it affects the economies of countries depending on the cattle and pig industry.

Symptoms of the disease include excessive salivation, limping, presence of sores in the mouth and in between the toes.

Countries experiencing foot and mouth disease suffer from trade embargoes limiting exports of even non-livestock products from affected areas.