Following an outbreak of hemorrhagic septicemia, a deadly livestock disease, the Taraba State government has imposed a ban on the movement of cattle to and from the Mambilla Plateau in the Sardauna Local Government Area.
The outbreak has already claimed the lives of over 1,000 cattle and over 15,000 cattle have already been affected.
Addressing Journalists in Jalingo, Dr. Nathan Francis, Taraba State Director of Veterinary Services said the state government, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has alerted neighboring states to take preventive measures to stop the spread.
“In the meantime, we have banned 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, meaning we are tackling a mixed infection,” he said.
He explained that hemorrhagic septicemia vaccines have been acquired to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign, which would also cover neighboring local governments such as Gashaka, Kurmi, and parts of Takum.”
Dr Francis said the state government has procured antibiotics, and veterinary officers were currently administering them on the Mambilla Plateau in the affected areas.
He stressed the importance of collaboration in containing the outbreak and preventing its spread to the Republic of Cameroon and other neighboring local government areas.
Dr Francis assured the public that the meat consumption is safe as long as it is properly cooked, adding that the situation was under control, stating that the disease does not affect humans.
He added that the Federal Government’s National Rapid Response Team, led by Dr. Ajani Oyetunji, Deputy Director of the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, have also been deployed to Taraba to assist in controlling the outbreak.
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