An early warning report has revealed a troubling increase in livestock diseases through several regions of the country in June.
Suspected cases of Foot and Mouth disease in cattle were reported in Laikipia, Meru, Narok, Wajir and Samburu counties.
This is according to the June National Drought Early Warning bulletin released by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).
The cases were reported in Mutara, Suguroi, Kiamariga, Salama, Saba and Table land in Laikipia county, as well as Mosiro and Nkareta Wards in Narok West, Narok East and Narok North subcounties.
Tigania West in Meru, Siana, Adamasajida in Wajir West, Gulanze and Ndavaya in Kinango subcounty and parts of Samburu were also affected.
“In Mandera and Turkana counties, cases of abortions affecting small stock were recorded with epidemiological investigations and sampling ongoing over the period under review,” the bulletin showed.
Equally in Garissa, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease was reported in Kumahumato, Dadaab and Iftin in Township subcounties.
Additionally, an estimated 2,865 goats in Marsabit presented PPR symptoms while 572 deaths were recorded, with the case fatality rate (CFR) being 20 per cent.
The bulletin indicated that about 1,021 sheep in the county had clinical symptoms, 184 deaths were reported, while the CFR was recorded as eight per cent.
“Increasing incidences of respiratory and septicemic diseases in camels were equally reported in Marsabit with the affected stock being about 1,618 out of which 185 had died.”
The drought warning further showed that the condition for both cattle and goats scored 'generally good' to 'very good', based on the pictorial evaluation tool evidence.
Majority of the counties reported improvement in the body condition for all livestock species across the long rains period.
The June monthly rainfall analysis indicates that several parts of Asal counties remained dry during the month under review.
Pastoral North East counties including Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Tana River and Garissa received less than 25mm of rainfall, while pastoral North west counties including Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu recorded amounts ranging between 26mm – 75mm.
The early warning bulletin attributed this to the June, July and August rainfall season.
The South East marginal agriculture counties including Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kajiado, Meru, Makueni and Kitui remained dry, receiving trace amounts of rainfall.
Similar situations were noted with agro-pastoral areas, including Kajiado, Laikipia, Narok, Baringo, Nyeri and West Pokot which received considerably good rainfall amounts.
Marginal agriculture counties including Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Lamu received considerable amounts of rainfall, ranging between 51- 76mm.
The July rainfall outlook is forecasted to remain mainly sunny and dry.
This will be experienced in areas such as Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kajiado, Narok, Nyeri, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, Turkana, Samburu and Marsabit.
Some parts of Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Narok, Samburu and Laikipia are forecasted to receive above normal June, July and August rainfall.
The month of June indicated sustained improvement in vegetation condition across the Arid and Semi-Arid counties when compared to the previous months.
“Stability in vegetation is due to the ongoing MAM [March, April, May] 2024 long rains season, which was normal in most parts of Asal counties. None of the counties recorded either extreme, severe or moderate vegetation deficit,” the bulletin showed.
All the 23 Asal counties including Samburu, Laikipia, Kajiado, Kitui, Turkana, Tana River, Garissa and Kilifi, Baringo, Narok, Nyeri, Makueni, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Taita Taveta, Lamu, West Pokot, Baringo and Kwale recorded above normal vegetation greenness.