After 41 years of absence in the country, the Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) has re-emerged in 2012 in the Gambia claiming the lives of over 4,000 heads of cattle throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Prior to the current outbreak, the last reported case of CBPP in the Gambia was in 1971 and vaccination ceased in 1987.

It has been reported that close to 1500 cattle died in the Niaminas, representing 30% of the cattle population.

In both Lower Fulladu West District and Upper Fulladu West Districts of the Central River Region (CRR), the reported mortality is more than 2000 heads of cattle which represents close to 20% of the total herd population in these two districts.

In Central River Region North, 112 cattle deaths were reported whilst in Upper River Region, it has been reported that close to 185 heads of cattle died as a result of the disease.

In North Bank region, 72 deaths were also reported.

185 heads of cattle were reported to have died as a result the disease in Upper River Region.

During the Launching of the Technical Cooperation Programme at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul, attended by this reporter, the participants were informed that Government of The Gambia has declared a National Animal Health Emergency and that a National Rapid Response Team on CBPP is to be responsible for the overall national coordination. The Team comprises representatives from 10 institutions namely MOA, GLMA, NDMA, AATG, GPF, MORALTR, CEES, APHS, DOA, PROGEBE.

In the same forum, a Resource Mobilization Plan to raise funds for implementation of the Strategic Action Plan was also unveiled requiring a budget for the whole vaccination campaign of D24 Million Dalasi. It was also disclosed that D14 Million of this amount has already been provided by the UN Food Agriculture Organization (FAO).

At the moment, there is a funding gap of D10 Million.