CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: Midlands Province has recently recorded 983 cases of the lumpy skin disease, a development that has sent shivers to livestock famers as 30 cattle have reportedly died from the disease to date.
Farmers in the Province have since appealed to government for vaccines to protect their livestock from the deadly disease.
“Our livestock is under threat from lumpy skin disease which has since killed a reasonable number of cattle across the province. We are quite worried on the future of our livestock projects if this disease is not dealt with swiftly.
“To date, we have however appealed to government that it avails vaccines and we are looking forward to receiving the much-needed assistance,” said Kumbirai Chigutiro, a local famer.
Affected districts in the province include, Gweru, Shurugwi, Mvuma, Kwekwe, Zvishavane, Mberengwa Gokwe North and South.
Contacted for comment, Midlands provincial Crop and livestock Production Officer, Medlinah Magwenzi said government is well aware of the impending problem and promised that they will act swiftly to avert the challenge.
“We have received a number of cases across the Midlands province so we are doing our best to curb the disease. We will soon be conducting a vaccination exercise to avoid further loss of livestock,” Magwenzi said.
Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease of cattle that is spread by biting insects. The virus, which is closely related to the pox viruses of sheep and goats, and causes nodular skin lesions on the animal’s body.
