Published Date: 2017-01-28 14:58:33
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Animal health situation, livestock - Kenya: deterioration, drought-rel, alert
Archive Number: 20170128.4798715
ANIMAL HEALTH SITUATION, LIVESTOCK - KENYA: DETERIORATION, DROUGHT-RELATED, ALERT
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Date: Thu 26 Jan 2017 3:30 am
Source: The Star (Kenya) [edited]
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/01/26/disease-threatens-weakened-livestock-in-drought-hit-areas_c1494305
An outbreak of 4 dangerous livestock diseases now threatens thousands of animals in more than 10 counties already battling with drought.
National Drought Management Authority says animal markets in some of the counties have been closed to stop the spread.
They are the Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia [CCPP], Peste des Petits Ruminant [PPR]. contagious bovine pleuropneumonia [CBPP] and the foot-and-mouth disease [FMD].
The agency said the situation could worsen because farmers are moving with their cattle looking for pasture.
"Unusual migration was reported in West Pokot, where more than 75 percent of the herd has moved towards the borders with Turkana and Uganda," the authority says in its latest drought bulletin.
It says the FMD has been reported in Baringo, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kwale, Lamu, Marsabit, Meru, Narok, Samburu and Taita Taveta.
"CCPP cases are suspected at the Kitui-Tana River border," the report says. CBPP has affected Garissa, Kajiado, Narok and Taita Taveta. Baringo, Marsabit and West Pokot have also been hit by the highly contagious PPR, also known as the sheep and goat plague.
However, many of the counties are already vaccinating their animals to stop the spread.
"Many of the bulletins also report vaccination programmes by the county governments, in some cases supported by partners such as the World Bank-funded Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project and the European Union-funded drought contingency fund held by the NDMA," the authority said.
Kenya Red Cross Society boss Abbas Gullet said the drought may degenerate to the 2011 situation if early interventions are not implemented.
At least 11 counties are experiencing severe food shortage and many residents may soon only survive on food donations. These are Baringo, lower Embu, Kajiado, Kitui, Laikipia, Makueni, Narok, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, Meru and Tharaka Nithi.
[Byline: John Muchangi and Gilbert Koech]
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[The 4 mentioned animal diseases are included in OIE's list of reportable diseases (all 4 previously in OIE's most pathogenic, prioritized transboundary 'List A' diseases) and have long been regarded endemic in Kenya and neighboring countries. According to Kenya's last annual OIE report, only PPR was not recorded during 2016 [its last previous occurrence, May 2015].
Their current exacerbation is ascribed to the deteriorated feed availability due to the prevailing drought, leading to poor bodily condition/lowered resistance, combined with increased movements and transhumance [the practice of moving livestock from one grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle]. - Mod.AS
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/174.]
