Foot and mouth disease hits Buhera
BUHERA has become the latest district in Manicaland to be struck by the highly contagious viral foot and mouth disease which has so far affected over 200 cattle following persistent illegal cattle movements.
As a result, the whole district has been put under indefinite quarantine, Post Business can reveal.
Foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral livestock disease that has a significant economic impact.
It affects cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. It is a trans-boundary animal disease that deeply affects the production of livestock and can disrupt regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
If left unchecked, the disease can cripple the livestock sector, cause immense animal suffering, destroy farmer businesses, create food insecurity and create massive trade impacts for the country.
Manicaland has about 644 773 head of cattle, of which Buhera has 121 516; Makoni 149 902; Chipinge 111 009; Mutare 108 928; Nyanga 78 826; Chimanimani 41 390 and Mutasa 32 202.
The foot and mouth disease outbreak follows illegal cattle movement from Chipinge to Mutare District in June 2023.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) issued the order placing all the 86 dip tanks in the district under quarantine on February 26, 2024.
“Buhera District where at least 200 cattle infected or suspected to be infected with the foot and mouth disease is placed under quarantine for an indefinite period. During the period, no ruminant and pigs may be moved or allowed to stray into or from the above mentioned land.
“To mitigate or stop the spread of the disease, the following must be carried out; (1) report immediately any suspicion of sick animal to DVS, (2) produce all cattle for vaccination and or inspection when called by DVS (3) sensitise and educate other stock owners and (4) report at earliest any illegal movements of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to ZRP and DVS,” reads part of the order signed by one S Chiduku.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development’s Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri decried the illegal movements of cattle saying this poses a serious threat to disease control efforts in the country.
This has seen authorities in Manicaland issuing out destruction orders to dispose the infected cattle.
“Persistent illegal movements pose a substantial threat to disease control efforts. Last week, authorities intercepted 14 head of cattle at Mayo in Manicaland Province. Adhering to prescribed regulations and procedures is crucial,” said Prof Jiri.
Department of Veterinary Services’ Manicaland provincial epidemiologist, Dr Innocent Chabanga blamed the latest outbreak on illegal movement of livestock from quarantined regions by some truant farmers.
He said the foot and mouth disease outbreak at Banza dip tank in Chivhu spilled into Buhera, resulting in an outbreak at Chapwanya, Chiriga and Chizhou dip tanks.
Post Business understands that an outbreak in Mutare District was caused by a farmer’s illegal movement of cattle from a foot and mouth infected area in Chipinge and has also spilled into Buhera, thereby causing an outbreak at Nharira dip tank.
The farmer moved 30 cattle on June 28, 2023, from a Chipinge area that had experienced an outbreak of the disease in the same month to Benhiwa in Mutare District.
Local cattle started exhibiting foot and mouth symptoms soon after the illegal movement.
As a result of this movement, the foot and mouth disease was reported at Bemhiwa dip tank in Mutare on September 17, 2023.
The disease has since spread to surrounding dip tanks in Mutare District, which has a cattle census of 120 000.
In addition, there are current foot and mouth disease outbreaks at Banza dip tank in Chikomba District, Mashonaland East, and at Chikombingo and Dzivarimwe dip tanks in Gutu, Masvingo.
The outbreaks are near Buhera West, and there are no physical barriers between the areas and Buhera.
Foot and mouth vaccinations are being carried out to control the outbreak, among other measures.
“Buhera District is adjacent to the infected areas in Mutare, with considerable human, vehicular and animal movement traffic between the two districts, which puts the former district at high risk.
“Consequently, the disease has spread to Buhera. An outbreak was reported on February 23, 2024, at Nharira dip tank and the whole district has been placed under quarantine until the outbreak is resolved,” said Dr Chabanga.
“Some selfish individuals are causing impoverishment of rural people through these illegal cattle movements. Farmers should adhere to livestock movement restrictions and quarantines in place for affected areas. Any illegal movement will disrupt control measures.
“Farmers should respond 100 percent to call ups for foot and mouth vaccinations and report any sick animal to the Department of Veterinary Services as soon as possible. The law will take its course and those found contravening livestock movement regulations will be prosecuted and have their livestock destroyed without fear or favour,” said Dr Chabanga.
He said Buhera has 106 000 cattle and 78 dip tanks, adding that so far, 44 164 cattle have
been vaccinated to prevent further spreading of the disease.