Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak Shuts Down Livestock Markets in Alego-Usonga and Rarieda

Livestock markets in the Alego-Usonga and Rarieda constituencies of Siaya County have been closed following a confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The closure comes as a swift response by the county government, which detected the highly contagious disease last week. The outbreak has prompted an urgent quarantine on livestock movement in the region in an effort to contain its spread.

Elizabeth Adongo, Siaya County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock, and Blue Economy, announced the quarantine measures, explaining that the disease had been detected in multiple areas within the two constituencies. Major livestock markets, including Boro, Nyadorera, Ng’iya, and Aram, are now under lockdown and will remain closed until the outbreak is brought under control.

“The rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease necessitated immediate action to prevent further escalation,” said Adongo, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. She noted that the closure of livestock markets is essential to halt the transmission of the disease, which can spread quickly among animals if not properly managed.

In an effort to curb the outbreak, the county government has launched a comprehensive vaccination campaign across the affected areas. The campaign will run for two weeks and is expected to cover over 16,000 livestock. Speaking during the flagging off of vaccines for the exercise, Adongo highlighted the need for farmers to ensure their animals are vaccinated. “We expect to vaccinate more than 16,000 animals during the period,” she said. “The exercise will be conducted free of charge at designated points in the affected areas.”

The vaccination campaign is seen as a critical measure in controlling the outbreak, as foot-and-mouth disease poses a significant threat to livestock. Highly contagious, the disease can cause severe economic losses by reducing milk production, limiting livestock trade, and in severe cases, leading to the death of infected animals.

Adongo also called on farmers and livestock owners to properly dispose of any animal carcasses by either burning or burying them to prevent the further spread of the disease. She stressed that the county government would not issue any permits for livestock movement in the affected areas until the situation is under control. “This is not just about preventing the spread of the disease locally,” she added, “but also ensuring that surrounding regions are protected from potential contamination.”

Dr. Mark Otieno, the county disease control coordinator, echoed Adongo’s sentiments, stressing the importance of adhering to the quarantine guidelines. He pointed out that foot-and-mouth disease can spread rapidly if strict containment measures are not followed, with devastating consequences for both local and national economies.

“Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, and it spreads through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated equipment, and even vehicles or people moving between farms,” explained Dr. Otieno. “We are urging all livestock owners to comply with the guidelines, as this is the only way we can effectively manage and control the outbreak.”

The quarantine and market closures will remain in place until the county authorities are confident that the outbreak has been contained and no further cases are reported. Livestock owners are advised to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspected cases of the disease to the relevant authorities.

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is a significant concern for the agricultural sector in Siaya County, which heavily relies on livestock farming for both food security and economic sustenance. The county’s swift action in responding to the outbreak highlights the importance of disease management in ensuring the safety of livestock and protecting the livelihoods of farmers.

As the vaccination campaign continues, county officials are hopeful that the measures taken will lead to a swift resolution of the outbreak. In the meantime, farmers and other stakeholders in the livestock sector are urged to comply with the containment measures and to cooperate fully with health officials to prevent further spread of the disease.

The county government has promised to keep the public informed on the progress of the vaccination campaign and the status of the quarantine measures. For now, the focus remains on vaccinating animals, preventing the movement of livestock, and ensuring the disease is contained within the affected areas.