Panic as viral disease kills more livestock

By Osinde Obare

A highly infectious viral disease of small ruminants, mostly sheep and goats, has spread to West Pokot County.

The Peste Des Petitis Ruminants (PPR) disease, as it is commonly known, has killed hundreds of livestock in Kerio Valley in a span of two weeks, sparking panic among residents.

Statistics indicate that the PPR infection has already claimed over 300 goats and sheep in Masol and Sigor divisions of West Pokot.

District Veterinary Officer Dr William Kibet said his office has launched a 30-day vaccination exercise against the pandemic that is threatening the livelihood of herders.

 Challenges faced

“The major challenge we face in eradicating the disease is that our neighbouring districts don’t carry out the exercise on time and when animals migrate from one area to another, chances of the disease spreading are high,” he said.

Dr Kibet said symptoms of the disease include diarrhoea, mouth rashes and discharge from eyes and nose. It is also characterised by high rates of infection and death.

The most affected regions are Amolem, Nyangaita,Takainwa and Akulo areas in Pokot Central District.

Dr Kibet appealed to non-governmental organisations to help curb the spread of the disease.

According to the animal doctor, the viral infection is common in the low regions of the county and the ministry has been controlling its spread by vaccinating animals before the onset of rains.

He asked neighbouring districts to vaccinate their animals jointly to help eradicate the killer disease in their regions.

Containing spread

In Kerio Valley, the Government is vaccinating more than 150,000 livestock to contain the spread.

A report by Livestock Veterinary Laboratory referral facility in Nairobi indicates the disease is suspected to have spread to Kerio Valley from Ethiopia through Turkana County.

Dr Bernard Moenga, a Ministry of Livestock official in charge of Veterinary Disease Control, said the disease had earlier been detected in Turkana but was contained, only to re-emerge again in Kerio Valley and parts of Isiolo and Garissa.

Livestock farmers have complained of heavy losses following the outbreak.