Wajir issues alert on outbreak of two deadly livestock diseases

The County Government of Wajir has raised an alarm on the outbreak of severe infectious diseases with high morbidity to goats and sheep.

The caprine pleuropneumonia and peste des petits ruminant diseases are suspected to have spread from the neighbouring Mandera county.

Wajir borders Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa and Isiolo counties.

Confirming the outbreak, Farah Saman, the County Executive Committee member for Livestock and Agriculture warned traders against buying livestock from Mandera until the disease is contained.

“We have a  case where a livestock trader from Wajir recently purchased 300 goats from Mandera, lost the entire herd and investigations by the Wajir vets confirmed they died due to the contagious PPR,” the health executive said.

Saman said quarantine should be imposed on any suspected case to contain the viral diseases and to guard against economic loss to the livestock farmers.

“Livestock farming is the backbone of our economy. As a county, it is our obligation to support our farmers in ensuring that they reap the maximum benefits of their animals by taking care of the livestock‚” Saman said.

Ahmed Jelle, an official from the county veterinary services department urged livestock farmers to remain alert and report suspected cases.

“Both diseases are viral and are likely to wipe out 85 per cent of your herd if you fail to impose a quarantine on any suspected case,” he warned.

Signs to look out for are fever, violent coughing, mucus and diarrhoea.

Livestock production in Wajir is the dominant income earning activity and plays an integral role in driving the local economy.

Over 80 per cent of the population depends on livestock for their livelihoods and food security.

Records show the sector also accounts for 75 per cent of employment in the rural setup, earning the county approximately Sh.10.5 billion from livestock products annually.