Taraba gov’t bans movement of animals over outbreak of deadly disease
Story by Jane AISO
Hemorrhagic Septicemia, a deadly livestock disease outbreak, has attacked and killed livestocks in Sadauna local government of Taraba State.
In response to this development, the Taraba State Government has hitherto banned the movement of animals to and from the Mambilla Plateau.
The outbreak has already resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 cattles.
In response, the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has alerted neighbouring states to take precautionary measures to prevent further spread. Vaccination and treatment efforts have been initiated in the affected areas.
During a press briefing in Jalingo, Dr. Nathan Francis, the Taraba State Director of Veterinary Services, emphasised the importance of this collaboration to control the outbreak and prevent it from spreading to the Republic of Cameroon and other neighbouring local government areas.
“The Mambilla Plateau has the highest livestock concentration in Nigeria, with an estimated livestock population of about 800,000 to one million,” Dr. Francis stated.
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“We have purchased antibiotics, and veterinary officers are currently administering them on the Mambilla Plateau. Additionally, we have acquired hemorrhagic septicemia vaccines to commence a large-scale vaccination campaign, which will also cover neighbouring local governments such as Gashaka, Kurmi, and parts of Takum.”
Dr. Francis added that, “In the interim, we have imposed a ban on the movement of animals to and from the Mambilla Plateau. However, we are facing challenges, including shortages of drugs and vaccines, cold chain facilities, and financial resources.
“Besides hemorrhagic septicemia, we are also dealing with contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, so we are tackling a mixed infection.”
He further calm the public by assuring them that everything is under control, saying the disease does not affect humans, and meat consumption is safe as long as it is properly cooked. “Sardauna Local Government Area shares a border with the Republic of Cameroon, and for effective control measures, we must collaborate with Cameroonian authorities using a ring vaccination approach to contain the spread,” he said.
Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Zanau Maikasuwa, expressed the state’s proactive approach to controlling the spread and their appreciation for the support from the Federal Government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“The state government recognises that cattle farming is a major livelihood for our residents, and we will not allow businesses to collapse due to diseases.
“We are also appealing for support to establish a diagnostic centre in Taraba to quickly identify and address the diseases affecting the state,” Maikasuwa said.
Proofreading by Gift Luckson, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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