Kajiado: Pastoralists in Kajiado county have been urged to present their livestock for vaccination, ahead of a mass livestock vaccination drive, set to be launched next week.
According to Kenya News Agency, the planned mass vaccination is part of the National Livestock Vaccination Program, aimed to safeguard animal welfare, improve productivity, and ensure a sustainable livestock sector. The County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Fisheries, Francis ole Sakuda, stated that the exercise will target the control of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) and Pestes des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
"For healthy livestock, especially during this time when we are experiencing drought, we must vaccinate the livestock. This will protect the herds against diseases and improve their productivity," said Sakuda. He emphasized that animal and human health are intertwined since people consume the animals, increasing the risk of contracting zoonotic diseases if livestock are not vaccinated.
The County Executive noted that teams of veterinary officers will be dispatched across the county, adding that the vaccination exercise will be conducted free of charge. Sakuda further urged local pastoralists to disregard false information spread by detractors, stating that the exercise is focused on disease control for quality livestock, which can fetch better prices both locally and internationally.
Though the exercise will be carried out across the county, Sakuda mentioned that it remains voluntary and farmers will not be forced to vaccinate their animals. The national government initiated a nationwide inoculation exercise in January this year, targeting to vaccinate 22 million cows against FMD and an additional 50 million goats and sheep against PPR. The exercise is being led by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Meanwhile, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Foot and Mouth Disease is a severe, highly contagious viral livestock disease that has a significant economic impact. The transboundary disease affects swine, sheep, cattle, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.