Grapevine

Namutumba begins mass vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease

Veterinary officials in Namutumba District have initiated a campaign to vaccinate at least one million cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by the end of August.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly infectious and potentially fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including both domestic and wild bovids. The disease is characterized by a high fever that lasts between two and six days, followed by the formation of blisters inside the mouth and near the hooves. These blisters can rupture, leading to lameness and further complications.

The District Veterinary Officer (DVO), Dr Samuel Kibwika, stated that the campaign follows an outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country, prompting the government to roll out a countrywide vaccination effort.

In Namutumba District, the exercise began in June and was initially scheduled to end in July, but it has been extended to August to ensure all animals are vaccinated. “Over 5,000 cattle out of the one million in the district have been vaccinated,” Dr Kibwika said in an interview on Tuesday.

He added, “The exercise is free because the government provided enough drugs. Farmers are reminded to bring their animals to all our gazetted vaccination centers in the district. We are also spraying ticks because infections from ticks cause death in animals.”