The Ministry of Agriculture in Kisii County has issued an alert over the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) with authorities confirming the death of three infected animals.
They said the disease was reported in three constituencies last week, including Nyaribari Chache, Nyaribari Masaba and Bomachoge Borabu.
The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Esman Onsarigo said samples of three animals were taken to Nairobi and confirmed they were infected.
Onsarigo appealed to farmers who have identified signs and symptoms of the disease in their animals to immediately report to the County Agriculture Offices for facilitation of immediate vaccination.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep and many wildlife species.
Symptoms include loss of appetite, reduced milk production, lameness with the presence of painful lesions on the feet, making the animal uncomfortable alongside causing it to shift its weight. Others are, drooling saliva and chomping of jaws.
Last year, the national government issued an alert over the outbreak of the disease after it was established that daily animals in various parts of the country had the disease.
According to the report that was released by the Ministry of Agriculture, 26 counties reported the outbreaks.
The statistics showed that Nakuru had the highest number of sick animals, followed by Kiambu, Garissa and Uasin Gishu.
The number of animals that were affected in Nakuru was 21, Kiambu had seven, Garissa and Uasin Gishu recorded six cows each.
Nairobi had five, Baringo, Bomet and Machakos reported four cases while Makueni and Trans Nzoia had three each.
Bungoma, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kisumu, Marsabit and Nandi reported two cases while Busia, Kakamega, Embu, Kericho, Kwale, Lamu, Meru, Murang’a, Narok, Nyamira and West Pokot recorded one each.
Kisii County government has now restricted the movement of animals within the region.
By Jane Naitore
