Vihiga County government has stepped up the anti-anthrax vaccination campaign as the quarantine on cattle has been extended by a month to deal with the outbreak.
County Agriculture CEC Paul Mbuni said that movement of the animals will remain banned for another month to give officers involved in the fight against the disease time to deal with it.
He told traders who were demanding that animals’ market to be re-opened to be patient adding that the disease has still been reported in some parts of the County.
“Traders selling cattle will have to wait for another month as the department intensifies the anti-anthrax vaccination campaign. I want to assure farmers that the government will deal with the disease,” Mbuni said.
He added that areas that had been hard hit by the disease were parts of Hamisi and Luanda sub counties.
“Veterinary officers are in the field visiting farmers and vaccinating their animals. We are doing the exercise in collaboration with ward administrators, chiefs and their assistants because they are close to farmers affected,” he added.
The CEC pointed out that he was impressed with the response after the launch of the exercise in the villages.
He urged farmers to report to his officers any case of anthrax for quick action to be taken. He added that the disease was being contained and there was cause of alarm.
The County administration last month banned the movement of cattle in the area following the outbreak of anthrax.
Last week traders appealed to Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo to intervene and have the ban lifted as they claimed that the disease had been contained.
They noted that they have been subjected to suffering following the closure of all animal markets in the County, a move they said that hurt their business.
But the Mbuni told the traders to be patient adding that the disease had not yet been completely dealt with as cases were reported in some parts of the county by last week.