Panic has hit Kapsabet town in Nandi county after a suspected outbreak of the dreaded Anthrax virus.
Six sheep and a dairy cow died at Kapkisengen village within Kamobo location in Kapsabet division in what has now been confirmed to be as a result of the virus.
“Their carcasses tested positive of Anthrax following laboratory tests at the North Rift veterinary laboratories in Eldoret,” Dr Isaac Keter, who is the director of veterinary services for Nandi Central, said.
He said the affected area has been put on high alert.
“We are going to carry out a ‘ring vaccination’ within Kamobo location on Thursday next week to contain the spread of the deadly virus,” Keter said.
Kamobo chief Benjamin Lulei said they have taken precautions as the shepherd who buried the carcasses and removed the samples has been taken to hospital for vaccination.
The farmer reported to the veterinary department after the animals collapsed and died in their pen days after a dairy cow also died under unclear circumstances.
Lulei said the county government had been notified since the veterinary department is a devolved function.
It carries out vaccination campaign in the area to contain any spread of the virus.
Nandi Livestock Development executive Dr Kiplimo Lagat assured farmers that the county was in the process of procuring the vaccines for the urgent campaign.
Mohammed Mahmoud, a cattle trader in Kapsabet town, expressed fears that if vaccination failed to take place on time, it could result into the closure of weekly cattle auctions in various trading centres.
“It will be a big blow to the fragile economy in the sector, we are kindly appealing to the county government to urgently carry out the vaccination in our area,” Mahmoud said.
