Machakos County has embarked on a campaign to vaccinate livestock following confirmed cases of anthrax in certain areas, the Yatta Sub-County veterinary officer Samuel Boore has said.
He said that the vaccination exercise was also aimed at controlling lumpy and black quarter diseases as the residents of the semi-arid Machakos never vaccinate their livestock on their own.
The officer said that cases of anthrax and lumpy disease had been reported in Uika and Ikombe locations adding that this had necessitated vaccination in the whole sub-county.
Boore said that his officers were also vaccinating cats and dogs against the rabies disease in an exercise that has kicked off on Friday.
He urged livestock farmers to take their animals to vaccination centres in the sub-county and pay for services as the government has made it affordable for them.
For each cow a farmer will pay Sh100 for vaccination against the three diseases while each goat is Sh80 and each dog is charged Sh50. Farmers will also be charged Sh50 for each cat according to the officer.
The veterinary officer however said that all payments were supposed to be receipted and the residents should ensure they are well served and report any cases of dissatisfaction at the centres.