The quarantine of livestock to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has extended to Kumi and Bukedea districts, following reports of hundreds of infected animals. Several districts, including Nakasongola and Kasese, are already under quarantine due to the viral disease.
Robert Ojara, the regional veterinary officer, explains that FMD is a contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, buffalos, sheep, goats, pigs, and camels. The disease poses a significant challenge to Uganda’s livestock sector due to cross-border movements and proximity to national parks with animals like buffalos, known to spread FMD.
FMD spreads through breath, saliva, mucus, milk, and feces, presenting symptoms such as fever, skin rash, and a sour mouth in affected animals. Simon Peter Omer, Katakwi district councilor, emphasizes the importance of observing infection control measures while awaiting animal vaccinations and proposes a temporary ban on animal movement from affected areas to neighboring districts.
In Kasese, where the disease has also struck, the district authorities have banned the trade and transportation of animals, impacting markets heavily dependent on cattle from neighboring districts and serving as a transit point for cattle destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meanwhile, Allan Mayanja of Nakaseke Central urges the government to compensate constituents who have lost cattle to FMD. In response to the outbreak, the government has imposed a ban on animal movement and trade in Nakasongola until the viral ailment is contained. Mayanja reveals that the disease has affected Nakaseke, Kinyongoga, and Wakyato, with 285 cattle showing signs of infection and some succumbing to the disease in just two weeks.
