Trans Nzoia county has closed all livestock markets after foot and mouth disease outbreak.
The disease has killed hundreds of livestock in the region this month.
The county has warned residents against slaughtering animals in their homesteads.
County agriculture, livestock and fisheries executive Phanice Khatundi said the disease had spread due to movement of livestock from Kamukuywa in Bungoma, West Pokot and Endebess along the Uganda border.
"Foot and mouth disease is a highly transmissible disease caused by infections that can lead to heavy losses of livestock but we have moved in to control the outbreak,” she said.
Khatundi said the virus, which primarily affects cloven hoof animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats, has also affected residents who depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
The official was speaking in Sukwo, Saboti subcounty, during a management exercise.
She said they have rolled out a massive vaccination drive to suppress the spread of the disease.
Most affected subcounties include Endebess, Kiminini, Cherang’any and Saboti, according to the county executive.
She said farmers and herders are receiving free medicine and other related veterinary services.
“We have sent out enough manpower to the areas affected to see to it that farmers are saved from the pain of losing their livestock. As a department, we are issuing medicine freely to affected farmers," Khatundi said.
She said additional extension officers would be deployed to affected subcounties to help farmers.
Khatundi advised farmers to uphold high hygiene standards and continue using magadi soda as part of the preventive measures to curtail further spread of the virus.
"Let our farmers refrain from slaughtering animals at home and instead take their animals to designated slaughterhouses where our public health officers inspect the meat and determine if it's fit for consumption,” she said.
Farmer Joseph Wafula said the disease had greatly affected their lives in the past three months.
“Many of us have lost animals in the last three months but the situation worsened in the New Year. We hope measures put in place by the county will help us to control the situation,” Wafula said.
