FMD: Quarantine partially lifted in disease free areas
Sheema District Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) task force has partially lifted the quarantine few weeks after it was instituted to contain the spread of the disease.
The commissioner of Animal health Dr. Ana Rose Adenum, on 7th February, imposed a total quarantine on both livestock and livestock products in Sheema district following the outbreak of FMD.
The authorities in the district have since been implementing control measures including the ban on the movement and sale of livestock and their products like meat.
According to the statistics from the district veterinary department 569 cattle have cured from FMD, 14 have been confirmed dead, while 24 are still under treatment.
During the meeting held on Monday, 4th march, at the district council hall that was attended by all LC III Chairpersons, sub-county and town council veterinary officers, Dr. Amanya Joseph, the Sheema District veterinary officer, noted that they have not fully lifted the quarantine and the areas that still have cases are not allowed to do any livestock business.
These include; Rugarama, Masheruka, Kiziba ward, Karera South and North as well as Rushozi ward.
Sam orikunda, the deputy resident district Commissioner Sheema, said that since the outbreak of FMD, they have tried to prevent it from spreading and have not registered any new cases apart from those that had been affected before the ban was imposed.
Jemimah Buhanda, the Sheema District chairperson, said they have directed the enforcement team in areas that are still affected to improve surveillance and those that have been allowed to open to stick to the guidelines.
According to Centre for Disease Control, Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals where an infected animal presents with fever, a drop in milk production a blisters on the mouth and feet, fever and loss of appetite.
