Residents of Lari Sub-County within Kiambu County have been asked to vaccinate their cattle against Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), in a bid to avoid an outbreak of the disease in the area.
Speaking on Thursday in his office, Lari Sub-County Veterinary Officer, Mr Karanja Ndirangu said that the disease outbreak had been reported in some of the sub-counties within Kiambu County and its surroundings and thus the need for Lari residents to take their livestock for vaccination to cushion them from unprecedented havoc.
Ndirangu said Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a disease of cattle and can produce a chronic debility in infected cattle comparable to that which is caused by foot-and-mouth diseases (FMD).
He said in case of an outbreak, the mortality rates can be as high as 40 per cent or even more.
The veterinary officer said the disease causes severe and permanent damage to animal (cattle) hides or the skin lesions.
“Lesions in the mouth, throat and respiratory tract commonly occur, resulting in a rapid deterioration in condition and sometimes severe emaciation, which can persist for months,” said Ndirangu.
He revealed that the disease outbreak started in Matehei within Kiambu County and has spread to other areas like Kijabe and Kagaa, hence the need to be cautious.
He said measures to contain the illness had already began in some areas and over 3,000 doses of the vaccine had been used to vaccinate animals in Kagwe, Kagaa, Kamburu and Matehei, with about 800 and 200 doses being used in Kijabe and Mbaoni respectively.
Ndirangu said they are offering training to farmers in the area to help them realise and manage early symptoms of the disease and other related diseases as well, adding that the training will help farmers to keep their livestock safe before the disease takes toll on the animal’s body and skin.
He discouraged farmers against roadside grazing saying that it immensely contributes to the spread of both LSD and FMD