BUJUMBURA August 3rd (ABP) – The vaccination campaign against Rift Valley fever was launched on August 1, 2022, in Cibitoke, Kirundo, Makamba and Muyinga provinces.
In Cibitoke province, the launch was carried out by Governor Mr. Carême Bizoza and continues in style, on the 2nd day according to the provincial veterinarian, Mr. Jean Sindayigaya.
In his message, the governor urged the village leaders to sensitize herders to respond without exception to vaccination.
That campaign, launched in Munyika 1 village in Rugombo commune, continued with other villages in the same commune. At the end of the first day, at least 994 cattle were vaccinated against that disease, in seven villages among 17 villages in the commune.
According to Mr. Sindayigaya, Rugombo commune was the first to benefit from this campaign, because it was the most threatened, adding that this commune recorded a total of nine cases with five deaths.
After Rugombo commune, will be the turn of Mugina which comes in second position in terms of cases, then Buganda, Murwi, Bukinanyana and Mabayi, indicated the provincial veterinarian of Cibitoke.
At the start of the vaccination, he added, 16,000 doses were available in the province, while more are pending.
However, some constraints are reported by the vaccinators, including the problem of movement related to the lack of fuel, the restraint of animals in some households.
As for breeders, they are asking the government to have doses against Rift Valley fever in sufficient quantity, so that all ruminants are vaccinated.
In Kirundo, the cow vaccination campaign as part of dealing with Rift Valley fever has started in Bugabira commune. 16,000 vaccines are planned in that province, while the whole province has about 20,000 cows, according to the provincial office of environment, agriculture and livestock.
In his speech, the governor of Kirundo Mr. Albert Hatungimana asked those in charge of that work to organize themselves well in order to achieve the objective.
He warned those who can disrupt the course of the activity, that severe penalties are provided in accordance with the law.
Regarding the slaughter of cattle, Governor Hatungimana clarified that the cattle must first be quarantined for a week and obtained the certificate stating that the health of the cattle is good. He added that it is strictly forbidden to market meat from one commune to another.
In Makamba province, that activity took place in the headquarters of Nyanza-lac commune. The director of the provincial office of environment, agriculture, livestock, Mrs. Léonie Nshimirimana, indicated that to start, the province received 4000 doses for 2000 cattle. She added that Nyanza-Lac commune was chosen because positive cases of Rift Valley fever were reported there.
Mrs. Nshimirimana also pointed out that small ruminants will be vaccinated afterwards, explaining that they are not vulnerable to that disease. According to forecasts, 31,000 cattle could be vaccinated in Makamba province, she estimated.
In Muyinga province, at least 19,000 cattle are expected this week for vaccination against the Rift Valley, announced on Monday the director of the provincial office for the environment, agriculture and livestock (BPEAE), Roger Sendegeye.
A total of 16,000 doses of vaccine are already available in BPEAE stocks, he said.
The vaccination campaign against that fever was launched on Monday August 1, 2022 by the governor of Muyinga province, Jean Claude Barutwanayo, with a team from the ministry in charge of livestock farming at his side.
According to Governor Barutwanayo, all stockbreeders are required to bring their animals to the vaccine in order to strengthen their immunity against Rift Valley fever. That campaign will focus the first two days in two communes, namely, the commune of Butihinda which recorded 54 positive cases with 14 deaths and that of Giteranyi which had 40 positive cases including two deaths, according to the head of the livestock component within the BPEAE.
The governor has indicated that vaccinated animals will only be eligible for slaughter after three weeks of observation. According to that provincial authority, cows intended for slaughter must be placed in quarantine. “Butchers or other traders are prohibited from moving meat from one village or zone to another,” he said.