Nebbi, (UG): The Nebbi district veterinary department is struggling to contain an outbreak of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a disease that is highly fatal in cattle and other hoofed animals.
At least 14,650 goats have died and 53,397 goats have been infected following the outbreak of the disease which was first reported in 2022.
According to the local authorities, the disease has since spread across all the sub-counties like Erussi, Nebbi, Alala Jupangira Atego, Ndhew and Kucwiny as well as Nebbi Municipality.
Moreen Awekonimungu, a livestock farmer in Nebbi Municipality says that she has so far lost three goats since the outbreak was reported a year ago. She further notes that an infected animal dies within two weeks after presenting with signs and symptoms of the disease.
The Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is an infectious disease caused by mycoplasmas and it mostly affects ruminants.
The diseases are transmitted through direct contact and inhalation of droplets from infected animals. Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, coughing, difficult respiration, oedema, and lung tissue abnormalities.
Mr Emmanuel Ongeitho, the Nebbi Municipality assistant veterinary officer blames the persistence of the diseases on the poor attitude of farmers against vaccination of their livestock.
According to Ongeitho, several farmers shunned the mass vaccination exercise which resulted in a spike in livestock deaths.
Dr. William Abedkane, the principal veterinary Officer for the Nebbi district, says the outbreak which started last year has been killing goats silently since farmers are hesitant to report the cases to the veterinary officers in their respective sub-counties.
He further appealed to farmers to pay attention to animal health just like they do to their own health.
According to information from the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the outbreak of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP disease was first confirmed in Uganda in 1995 in the Karamoja region.
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