BY CHUWANG DUNGS
An outbreak of cattle disease known as Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) has occurred in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing many cows.
Multiple sources from the area say the outbreak has led to the death of over two thousand cows.
They said communities mostly affected are Kwarakwara, Furmi, Mayo Ndaga and Dorofi among others.
HS is a major disease of cattle and buffaloes characterised by an acute, highly fatal septicaemia with high morbidity and mortality.
It is caused by certain serotypes of Pasteurella multocida that are geographically restricted to some areas of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe.
Reports show that the disease was recorded in Adamawa and Taraba states in 2006 following wrong administration of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccine (CBPPV) combined with black quarter vaccine (BQV) and administration of CBPPV respectively.
The Deputy Director of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Jonathan Zeku, who was in Gembu, the local government headquarters to interact with stakeholders, says the State Government has deployed veterinary officers to various communities in the locality to tackle the disease.
He solicited support from the people to enable them treat and vaccinate the cows.
He explained that Governor Agbu Kefas took immediate steps to tackle the outbreak in line with his administration’s commitment to improve the lives of the people and their investments.
Mr Zeku explained that the assignments are in two phases, which include treatment and vaccination of the cows to prevent further spread of the disease.
In his comments, the Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council, Mohammed Umar appreciated the State Government for its continuous support to the people at the grassroots.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Salihu Yerima, the Chairman appreciated Governor Kefas for his quick response to the outbreak, assuring that the Council would give the team maximum support to succeed.
On his part, the Sarkin Fulani Sardauna Local Government Area, Saidu Bawa, also applauded Mr Kefas’s leadership style that has impacted positively on the lives of the people.
Others who spoke, the Director Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Local Government, Sule Isah, Divisional Veterinary Officer of Sardauna Local Government Area, Husseini Isah and his counterpart from Gashaka Local Government Area, Mangbon Godwin expressed readiness to do the needful to contain the disease.
The team also visited the Chief of Mambilla, Audu Baju at his palace.
He assured them of his full support, adding that before now he had notified the State Government and the National Veterinary Center about the outbreak of the disease.
