NYIMBA VACCINATES CATTLE AGAINST FMD

By ElvisMilambo

THEMinistry of Fisheries and Livestock is vaccinating thousands of cattle againstFoot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Nyimba district following reported diseaseoutbreak in neighbouring Petauke in the Eastern province.

DistrictFisheries and Livestock Coordinator (DFLCO) Shepherd James Phiri says thedistrict is targeting to vaccinate five thousand (5,000) cattle during thisvaccination exercise to prevent the highly contagious disease from spreading toNyimba.

“Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a notifiable diseaseof national economic importance. It’s a very contagious disease which meansthat once an outbreak has been reported, no trading of beef products is allowedin affected areas,” said Dr. Phiri

Hesaid the role of government is to provide resources in terms of vaccines tofight the disease while the role of farmers is to present their cattle forvaccination.

“Thevaccinations are meant to prevent the disease from occurring. Nyimba does not have any outbreak of FMD but there was an outbreak of FMD in Petauke which wasseemingly coming to our side. So, the department of veterinary services thought of limiting the spread of the disease so we had to create a buffer in between Nyimba and Petauke,” the Dr. explained.

Dr. Phiri disclosed that concentration was put on Chipembe camp which borders Petauke. The Dr. added,” Our target is not to vaccinate all the cattle in Nyimba because we know where the threat is and that is why we picked the 5,000 doses of Bivalent vaccine,”                About three thousand, two hundred and twenty-seven (3,227) cattle have since been vaccinated against FMD out of the targeted 5,000 doses.

Livestock rearing is a serious business of national significance which the government is keen to improve in eastern province. District Veterinary Officer (DVO), Dr. Chiluba Zimba, who is leading the vaccination exercise in the field in Nyimba says vaccination of cattle herds around the border of Nyimba and Petauke will prevent the disease from spreading to Nyimba, adding that livestock farmer shave responded positively to the vaccination exercise as they’re turning up in large numbers in targeted areas in the district.

Dr. Phiri said Nyimba district’s cattle population, which stands at 35,000, is too low for such a big district and requires growing in order for the livestock sector to significantly contribute to economic growth that would increase livestock farmers’ income and further diversify livelihoods.

The DFLCO is urging farmers in Nyimba to regularly take their animals for dipping in designated dip tanks in the district throughout the year in order to reduce and eliminate tick borne diseases. He further said East Coast Fever (ECF) can also be easily controlled through immunization of cattle in the area as long as farmers play their role.

‍