The County Government of Bomet has embarked on vaccination against zoonotic diseases such as Anthrax, Black quarter, and Rabies which pose a great risk not only to livestock but also to humans.
Between October 2022 and January this year, 179 cases of Rabies and another 22 cases of Anthrax have been reported. This situation has prompted the county to roll out a mass vaccination exercise to combat the spread of these diseases.
Speaking during the launch Bomet Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok revealed that the county has embarked on vaccinating both people and animals against these diseases.
“This vaccination exercise targets both humans and livestock across the country. So far 3,250 people and 12,479 dogs and cats have been vaccinated against Rabies, over the same period,” said Barchok.
He confirmed that his administration has procured 20,000 doses of Anthrax/Black Quarter vaccines to be administered to animals that are most susceptible to the diseases.
He further revealed that the county will be partnering with other non-governmental organizations like Framing Systems that have been monitoring the well-being of animals in the county to realize the vaccination of both people and animal drives within the area.
“As part of our commitment to controlling all zoonotic diseases in livestock, we are partnering with Farming Systems Kenya, Kenya Red Cross, and Tenwek Hospital Community Health and Development to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to the vaccines,” explained the governor.
The vaccines will be distributed to the five sub-counties within the county where vaccination exercises will be initiated immediately.
The exercise comes in handy after reports indicate a stray dog with rabies bit severely people in the Kiperes ward in Bomet East Sub-county.
One of the victims succumbed to the infection.
By Lamech Willy
