Authorities in Kitagwenda District have intensified efforts to contain the spread of anthrax through a livestock vaccination campaign led by private veterinarians, following the reported deaths of two people linked to the disease.
Livestock owners are currently paying Shs 3,000 per animal for vaccination as district authorities await supplies of government-provided vaccines.
The Chief Administrative Officer of Kitagwenda District, RK Moses Daliri, said the intervention has already yielded positive results, with more than 20,000 animals vaccinated out of an estimated livestock population of 50,000 across the district.
“We decided to work with private vaccinators as we wait for government vaccines so that we can quickly control the spread of anthrax,” Daliri said. “So far, over 20,000 animals have been vaccinated, and this is helping us protect both livestock and human lives.”
According to Daliri, although anthrax cases had earlier been reported in five sub-counties, the district has not registered any new cases over the past two weeks, a development authorities say indicates that the containment measures are beginning to take effect.
“Despite the outbreak in the five sub-counties, we have not recorded another anthrax case in the last two weeks. This gives us hope that the situation is stabilising,” he noted.
Daliri added that district leaders will only consider lifting the quarantine and related restrictions after health authorities officially confirm that the district is free from anthrax infections.
“We shall only lift the ban after confirmation from health authorities that Kitagwenda is anthrax-free,” he said. “We therefore call upon the community to continue cooperating with authorities and strictly adhere to the guidelines put in place to fight this deadly disease.”
Authorities continue to urge residents to avoid slaughtering sick animals, consuming suspicious meat, and to immediately report any sudden livestock deaths to veterinary officers.