Kitui to vaccinate 600,000 goats, sheep after plague outbreak

The county government of Kitui has partnered with Veterinaires Sans Frontiers (VSF) of Germany to vaccinate goats and sheep following an outbreak of a deadly plague.

Goat and sheep plague is a contagious viral disease of small ruminants characterised by fever, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and inflammation of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Agriculture and Livestock executive Stephen Mbaya Kimwele on Sunday said the plague had already caused fatalities of lambs and kids in several areas.

Kimwele said on the phone that the hotspots of the outbreak are mainly the peripheral subcounties of Mwingi North, Mwingi Central and Kitui East.

“Although vaccination will take place in all wards in Mwingi North and Mwingi Central subcounties, in Kitui East subcounty only Mutitu-Kaliku, Nzombe-Mwitika and Voo-Kyamatu wards will be covered in the drive," he said.

Kimwele said through the partnership with VSF Germany, 600,000 goats and sheep are targeted for the jab.

“The programme is for one year. Vaccinations are scheduled to start in February 2024 subject to ability to confirm the outbreak, the carrying out of pre-vaccination survey, vaccines availability and facilitation,” he said.

The CEC added that the county government of Kitui will provide technical support, vehicles, motorcycles and cool boxes, and write the reports to ensure the vaccination campaign is successful.

The VSF Germany will track vaccine and other equipment procurement, facilitate training, conduct livestock movement analysis, surveillance, livestock vaccination and pay staff.

The CEC added that on January 19 he led officers from his department, including the livestock chief officer Jonathan Kyambi in a consultative meeting with VSF Germany team led by Dr Sylvester Wakhu.

The meeting discussed best strategies in managing the goat and sheep plague outbreak. 

Kimwele said the talks also touched on comprehensive surveillance to establish livestock movement patterns within and around the outbreak hotspots to facilitate effective containment. 

“It was agreed that sheep and goat vaccination exercise will start in a fortnight preceded by a sore-surveillance of the hot spots areas slated for Monday next week,” Kimwele said.