Kiambu Vets report FMD
A Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Kenya’s leading milk subcounty, Githunguri, which produces Fresha milk, is disrupting national milk supplies and killing cattle across the county, according to vets.
On 6th August, Githunguri sub-county announced a quarantine and movement restrictions to try and prevent the spread of the disease.
During the just concluded Six Nations Livestock Expo, the Expo CEO Henry Kioko reported that elite animals from Kiambu region were rejected because of movement restrictions.
In the East African region, researchers report FMD in Burundi. Other most infected regions,include parts of Pakistan and Nigeria.
The government of Kenya has been working to vaccinate the country’s cattle according to the DVC office.
According to Vets sources, FMD has 7 types and a vaccination against one does not protect cattle from the other six types.
In an effort to curb the strain ripping through Kiambu, Githunguri veterinary officer Antony Kaguchia has directed that all livestock in the sub-county be herded as far as possible from any public road and owners of all animals dying from the disease burn the carcasses or bury them six feet below the ground.
The livestock markets in the county have been closed.
Farmers attending last week’s Six Nations Livestock Expo from Kiambu were forced to show without their animals. “Even though our farm has not been hit by FMD, you can clearly see we are indirectly affected because even if we make a sale outside Kiambu, we cannot move the animals because of the restrictions placed,” said a representative of Mbezi Farm based at Kiringiti.
FMD typically reduces milk production by around 35 per cent at its peak.
