Source: January Disease claims 1 000 cattle in Mash West | Sunday Mail

Wallace Ruzvidzo

Sunday Mail Correspondent

The disease, which has a fatality rate of up to 90 percent, is mostly common between December and March.

Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement’s Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services director Dr Jairus Machakwa, told The Sunday Mail that the cattle disease had mainly affected Zvimba, Chegutu and Mhondoro-Ngezi.

Worryingly, outbreaks have also begun to be experienced in all Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland, Midlands and Masvingo while Matabeleland is presently spared.

Efforts are currently underway to develop a vaccine for the January Disease locally, with the first vaccine efficacy trial results expected by the end of this month.

Dr Machakwa said areas affected by the disease have been immediately put under quarantine, meaning no cattle will be moved in or out of their areas of habitation.

“Cattle dipping is the single most important tick control intervention. Areas experiencing outbreaks have been prioritised in the distribution of acaricides/dipping chemical so as to control the disease.

“The normal dipping frequency in the rainy season is once a week but this has been increased to three times in 2 weeks in the affected areas,” he said.

Dr Machakwa lamented a shortage in dipping chemicals, adding that heavy rains experienced over the past few weeks have resulted in some farmers not carrying out dipping sessions.

January Disease is a notifiable disease in Zimbabwe and when cases are suspected farmers are compelled by the law to report to the Division of Veterinary Services.

More than 2 000 cattle succumbed to the tick-borne disease in Mashonaland West during the same period, three years ago.

The disease left farmers in a panic mode with some selling their cattle for as little as $70 each.