Joseph Miti and Anisa Mahfoodh
3 February 2008
Kampala — TWO deadly livestock diseases have broken out in different parts of the country, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has announced.
The State Minister for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, said foot and mouth disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) have broken out in Isingiro District and Karamoja sub region.
PPR, also known as goat plague, is caused by a paramyxovirus of the Morbillivirus genus and is closely related to the human measles virus. It mostly affects goats and sheep.
FMD locally known as ejjwa or Kalusu is caused by a virus of the family Picornaviridae, genus. It is one of the most contagious animal diseases that causes death of animals.
The Commissioner of Livestock Health and Entomology, Dr Nicholas Kauta said PPR symptoms are excess diarrhoea, flow of tears and cough which lead to animal death.
Both diseases are spread through contact between infected and susceptible animals.
Mr Rwamirama said on Friday at the government's Media Centre that FMD has hit the border sub-counties of Endinzi and Mbaare of Bukanga County in Isingiro District while PPR has affected the districts of Kotido, Kaabong, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Abia in Karamoja sub-region. He was giving an update on the coming nationwide livestock census exercise scheduled February 18 to 25.
"Both diseases were imported by infected animals from the neighbouring Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," Mr Rwamirama said adding, "We have immediately imposed a quarantine on animal movement, livestock products and by-products in affected areas to contain both diseases.
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