The veterinary department of the Nebbi district has declared an outbreak of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a disease that is very deadly in goats and other hoofed animals.
Dr. William Abedkane, the principal veterinary officer for Nebbi district, says the disease has since spread to all the subcounties like Erussi, Alala Jupangira Atego, Ndhew and Kucwiny, as well as Nebbi Municipality.
“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,” Abedkane stated.
He said that the disease is transmitted through direct contact and inhalation of droplets from infected animals. Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, coughing, difficult respiration, oedema, and lung tissue abnormalities.
Emmauel Ongeitho, the Nebbi Municipality assistant veterinary officer, blames the persistence of the diseases on the poor attitude of farmers against vaccination of their livestock.
“The outbreak, which started last year in 2022, has silently killed goats since farmers are hesitant to report the cases to the veterinary officers,” Angeitho said.
Ongeitho further explained that several farmers shunned the mass vaccination exercise, which resulted in a spike in livestock deaths.
The local communities are advised to pay attention to animal health just like they do to their own health.