Province on high alert for tick-borne diseases

Midlands province is on high alert to respond to Theileriosis, a tick-borne disease commonly referred to as January disease, which has wreaked havoc in other provinces, killing over 50 000 cattle countrywide since last year. Midlands provincial Veterinary Services official Dr Munyaradzi Chigiji said they have intensified dipping of livestock as a prevention measure in provincial border areas such as Mvuma, Chirumhanzu and on the outskirts of Kwekwe

“The disease has not yet affected our province, but we have intensified dipping schedules for provincial border areas such as Mvuma and Chirumhanzu considering that the tick-borne disease has wreaked havoc in neighbouring Chivhu district.

“Dipping is an early response mechanism that controls the spread of the diseases. We have already availed enough dipping chemicals in all risk areas.”

Dr Chigiji said the department is making efforts to come up with an effective vaccine to protect the national herd which has been severely affected.

“The department is fully aware of the challenge at hand,” he said.

“Our Central Veterinary Laboratory in Harare is working on unveiling a new effective Theileriosis vaccine. A new vaccine will be available before the end of this quarter.”