Local leaders in Pakwach district are facing challenges in enforcing quarantine put in place as one of the preemptive measures against contagious diseases affecting goats and cattle in some selected areas. #WhisperEyeNews
Diseases affecting animals in Pakwach are caprine Pleuropneumonia ( CCPP) in goats and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia ( CBPP) in cattle.
The chief administrative officer of Pakwach Dalili RK Moses in the July 18th letter to all leaders directed that the movement of animals including the operation of livestock markets, slaughter places and animal shows be restricted with immediate effect. This directive is to be enforced by Leaders at various levels to stymie the spread of the Diseases.
” Movements of goats, cattle ( live animals), their products from within affected areas that include Sub_Counties of Alwi, Panyimur, Pakwach, Panyango and Panyimur Town Council are restricted” Dalili noted before adding that “livestock markets, slaughter places, and animal shows within the affected areas have been closed.
The most affected areas are the five lower local governments of Alwi, Panyango, Panyimur, Pakwach and Panyimur Town Council.
Esau Opio, the LC3 of Panyango Sub-county who recommends that the quarantine be imposed all over the district said enforcement has become tricky as many animal dealers have resorted to night operations.
” We came up with a number of mechanisms but we know for sure that at night, people have different routes which they are following and this is hard for security to monitor. At night you find when your deep sleeping, people are manoeuvring with the animals, some of them are slaughtering at homes and In the morning, meats are all over town.”, Opio Said.
The LC3 chairperson of Pakwach Sub County Cephas Gwoktho Anyayo, has decried the high information gap and low vaccination uptake.
” Much as we are trying our best to talk to our people at public gatherings like churches, and landing sites amongst others, The information has not reached the community very well because most of the community members don’t have radios and for us leaders, we have not penetrated much in the villages and Parishes to inform our people but still, people are slaughtering goats and cattle” Gwoktho Said before appealing to the District leadership to increase animals vaccination at the grass root level.
In the neighbouring Nebbi District, respiratory disease is continuing to kill particularly goats in the Sub_Counties of Kucwiny, Ategu, Padwot, and Parombo amongst others. In May, more than 4,000 goats were reported to have died.
Causes of the Diseases.
Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a highly contagious infectious disease of goats caused by the Mycoplasma mycoides capri and Mycoplasma F38 bacteria. CCPP causes inflammation of the lungs and accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity. Damaged lung tissue can harden and adhere to the chest wall, which interferes with effective respiration and causes the goat to die from lack of oxygen. Mortality rates can reach 100 %.
CPP is spread through the inhalation of airborne droplets from coughing/sneezing animals. Direct goat-to-goat contact is necessary for the disease to spread according to the United State Department Of Agriculture.
Fever, weakness, Lethargy, Coughing, Difficult breathing, frothy nasal discharge, stringy saliva, and exercise intolerance are some of the common signs of CCPP.
If earlier detected according to experts, it can be prevented using antibiotics and some of its key preemptive measures are vaccinations and Quarantine.
