West Pokot County government has launched a Ksh. 10 million livestock vaccination against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). The bacterial disease afflicts the lungs of cattle, buffalo, zebu and yaks.
The six-day vaccination that kicked off on Saturday is targeted to be administered to over 30,000 livestock in the County.
Speaking at Kanyerus village, after officially launching the exercise, West Pokot County Governor John Lonyangapuo said that the County had cooperated with the national government in the project.
Lonyangapuo said that the vaccination exercise targets animals along the Kenya-Uganda border, given that the disease has been reported in Uganda already, saying that domestic animals constitute their main source of income as a community.
He said the exercise is also being conducted in Uganda in areas along the border to help curb further infections.
The County boss said the exercise is expensive and asked other well-wishers and the government to cheap in and help save farmers from incurring losses.
West Pokot County director of veterinary services Dr. James Merisia said there was the need to conduct the massive vaccination exercise since they have received reports that the disease had been reported in the neighbouring County. “The disease can’t be treated but we can prevent an outbreak through vaccination,” he said.
He said in 2013 the Kenyan government together with Ugandan government signed an agreement for joint vaccinations to help prevent the spread of disease.
