Concerns as Pakwach register  over 150 cases of  Foot and mouth disease

By Mike Rwothomio

Pakwach District has registered  a serious  outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the  three Sub-counties of Alwi, Wadelai  and Ragem.

Ragem Subcounty has reported  100 cases ,  Wadlai over 50 and Alwi confirmed 1 case.

To mitigate the spread of the disease, Pakwach leadership  has imposed restrictions on the movement of livestock and it’s  products into, out of, or through the  district.

Twaib Achille, the Deputy  Resident District Commissioner  appealed to farmers to strictly adhere to quarantine guidelines, and avoid transportation of livestock including other animals products from one place to another.

He assured that the  district has requested for additional FMD   vaccines  from the government  to ensure 100% vaccination coverage.

The leaders express optimism that the  timely delivery of the vaccines will be a key  proactive measure to slow-walk the rapid spread of the dangerous FMD disease.

Apparently, time is seemingly  hanging heavy for many farmers waiting for vaccines to rescue their animals.

Ogala Charles, a livestock farmer in Pumit Parish, Wadlai Sub-County  reported losing two calves to premature births caused by the infection. He also  recounted how he recently lost 130,000 shillings to treatment of his animals.

Last year, Government imposed animal  quarantines in 32 districts across the country,  due to  outbreak of FMD disease   that exacerbated considerable distress in the cattle corridor. The  Affected districts included  Luwero, Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule, among others.

Florence Acen , the Pakwach  Deputy Chief Administrative Officer,  has rallied  farmers to remain vigilant, and  identify infected animals in compliant with  containment measures.

This is the second time Pakwach has been hit hard by  FMD outbreak since 2017, and it also compounds to challenge   Pakwach Farmers faced in 2023, after  contagious caprine Pleuropneumonia ( CCPP) in goats and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia ( CBPP) in cattle, ravaged the area, killing hundreds of livestock.

The District Production Officer Canpara Robert, also  the acting District Veterinary Officer, stated that the district requires an additional  40,000 doses of vaccines  to cover over 37,000 registered cattle.

Foot and mouth disease is caused by an Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae,  and it’s prevention is  dependent on the presence of early detection and warning systems,  and the implementation of effective surveillance among other measures, according to the world organization for animal health.

Omito Robert Steen, the LCV Chairperson of Pakwach, attributed the spread to illegal transportation of animals across the River Nile,  and improper disposal of animal waste along animal corridors in Alwi Sub-County, particularly in villages of  Ondir and  Got Madi. 

He called for heightened security surveillance to curb these practices.

In November last year, Uganda through UPDF  received  consignment of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from Egypt, comprising 2.5 million doses. 

According to the ministry of Agriculture, Uganda’s total susceptible livestock population requires 44 million doses of FMD vaccines annually, necessitating a bi-annual vaccination programme costing approximately $176 million per year.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.