This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Published on October 14, 2019, Nyandarua County is facing a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which has already led to the death of three cows and infected over 200 animals.
The disease, which is a transboundary infection from the neighbouring Nakuru County, has hit Nyandarua for the second time in the last two months. In August, type O of the disease hit Mirangine and Kinangop Sub-Counties but was quickly contained.
According to Nyandarua County CEC for Agriculture, Dr James Karitu, the disease has been put under control through surveillance and ring vaccination, where 800 cows have so far been vaccinated.
However, experts are on high alert given that type 31, which has hit Kanjuiri, resulted in deaths. Nyandarua county director for Veterinary Services, Dr Rose Oyolo, said that in the last five years, there has not been a single case of foot and mouth in Nyandarua, but poor farmer turnout during vaccination campaigns, a severe shortage of vaccine, and inadequate allocation of funds for disease control and prevention are obstacles.
Dr Oyolo emphasized that vaccination is the main way of preventing foot and mouth disease, but there is a severe shortage of supply from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute, which is the only manufacturer in the country.
The county has ordered its stock of vaccine early and deposited some money with the institute to ensure priority in case of need. However, farmers do not take their animals for vaccination in time as required, and lack of adequate funding for disease control and prevention in Nyandarua County is also a challenge.
