Cattle Disease Hits Katsina, Kills 13 Cows

An outbreak of a cattle disease known as Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia, CBPP, has killed 13 cows in Hayin Sheka, Sabuwar Kasa in Kafur and Musawa local government areas of Katsina State over the weekend.
The Director, Veterinary Services in the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Isa Abba, who confirmed the development Tuesday, said the outbreak was caused by activities of some cattle rearers who graze outside the state and return to the state with the disease.
Dr. Abba said though the government has since swung into action with the vaccination of 3,000 contact animals and those in the surrounding villages of the affected areas.
According to Dr. Abba, “We got information about the outbreak in Kafur from the herder’s neighbours, who informed that the man went on greener pasture in Kwara State and came back with the disease. We isolated the animals to avoid the spread, investigated and recommended some drugs for vaccination before reporting to the state government.
“The disease started when the herder was in that area. We don’t know the causalities. Right here, he lost 10 cattle before we intervened last week.
“On that of Musawa, the owner of the cattle went for grazing in Bauchi in Kano State. He came back with the same signs. When we interrogated him, he said he spent about eight months there.
On preventive measure to arrest future occurrence of such outbreak, Dr. Abba said, “We advised that the cattle rearer should inform the ministry whenever they are going for greener pasture so that we vaccinate them and give them vaccination record. They should also report to the ministry on return for investigation of the animals.
“We advise them to report promptly any strange disease and symptoms before it escalate. We advise them not to patronize quacks but professional doctors of husbandry.
“They should desist from self medication because there are fake drugs in the markets,” the Veterinary Director cautioned the cattle herders.