This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
As a veterinarian, I've seen firsthand the devastating impact of ignoring animal vaccination. In recent weeks, I've received numerous inquiries from pig and cattle farmers in Murang'a, Nairobi, and Kajiado, all of whom are struggling with recurring outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever.
These farmers are not alone in their struggles. According to scientific evidence, diligent vaccination is the most effective way to control and prevent these diseases. In fact, studies have shown that vaccination during outbreaks is a 'fire-fighting' activity that often ends in damage that could have been avoided if animals had been vaccinated when they were healthy.
One farmer I worked with in Nairobi had 80 cattle and 500 pigs. For eight years, I had vaccinated the cattle and breeding pigs against FMD, and he never experienced an outbreak. However, in the ninth year, he decided to stop vaccination, citing the costs. Unfortunately, he soon found himself facing a major outbreak, losing 30 cows and 100 pigs to FMD.
Under normal circumstances, FMD and LSD can be effectively controlled if at least 80 per cent of the animal populations in an area are diligently vaccinated. My advice to livestock farmers is to organize themselves and discuss with their animal health service providers to ensure that farmers in an area work with one service provider who vaccinates at least 80 per cent of the animals in a diligent programme at all scheduled times.
