Report By: Sani Suleiman
The Taraba State government has ban movement of cattle to and from the Mambilla Plateau in the Sardauna Local Government Area of the state.
The decision was taken following the confirmation of an outbreak of hemorrhagic septicemia, a deadly livestock disease in some parts of the state.
The outbreak has already resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 cows as confirmed by the state Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
In response, the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has alerted neighboring states to take precautionary measures to prevent further spread.
The state ministry announced that it has initiated vaccination and treatment exercises in the affected areas.
During a press briefing in Jalingo, Dr. Nathan Francis, the Taraba State Director of Veterinary Services, emphasized the importance of the collaboration to control the outbreak and prevent it from spreading to the neighboring Republic of Cameroon and other neighboring local government areas.
According to him, Mambilla Plateau has the highest livestock concentration in Nigeria, with an estimated livestock population of about 800,000 to one million.
He revealed that the ministry has purchased antibiotics, and veterinary officers are currently administering them on the Mambilla Plateau, adding that they have also acquired hemorrhagic septicemia vaccines to commence the large-scale vaccination campaign.
The campaign is expected to cover neighboring local government areas such as Kurmi, Gashaka, and parts of Takum.
Dr. Nathan Francis, further added that “We are facing challenges, including shortages of drugs and vaccines, cold chain facilities, and financial resources.
“Besides hemorrhagic septicemia, we are also dealing with contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, so we are tackling a mixed infection,” he lamented.
He assured the public that everything is under control, pointing out that the disease does not affect humans and meat consumption is safe as long as it is properly cooked.
Dr. Francis, however, noted that the state government must collaborate with the Cameroonian authorities using a ring vaccination approach to contain the spread of the disease as they shares border with the Sardauna LGA.
The Federal Government’s National Rapid Response Team, led by Dr. Ajani Oyetunji, Deputy Director of the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has also been deployed to Taraba to support the state’s efforts in containing the outbreak.
Dr. Oyetunji revealed that over 15,000 cattle are already affected, adding that the National Rapid Response Team was deployed to Taraba under the directive of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria.
“Our purpose is to complement the state’s response activities, synergize efforts, and strengthen the response.
“One of our response plans is to enhance the surveillance system to detect the disease as early as possible and to reinstate case management to properly treat affected animals. We are also educating farmers on preventing the disease from entering their farms,” said Dr. Oyetunji.
According to him, the Federal Government has enhanced the capacity of the veterinarians in Taraba State by providing them reporting tools, cold chain facilities, and essential veterinary resources as it is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to ensure food security.
“This plan aims to improve livestock production through effective animal health services across the country.”
Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security, Zanau Maikasuwa expressed the state’s proactive approach to controlling the spread of the disease.
He registered their appreciation for the support from the Federal Government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
He informed that the state government recognizes that cattle farming is a major livelihood for its residents, and promised not to allow businesses to collapse due to diseases.
Additionally, Maikasuwa appealed for more support to enable them to establish a diagnostic centre in the state to quickly identify and address the menace affecting the state.