Kabale district confirms outbreak of goat plague disease

Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Goat plague disease has been confirmed in Kabale district.

Goat Plague is a viral disease related to the rinderpest of sheep as well as goats. It is characterized by fever, cough, very bad-smelling breath, diarrhoea and discharge from the eyes and nose, which can form a crust, making breathing difficult and forcing the eyes shut. According to scientists, most sheep and goats that show signs of the disease will die.

The disease has been confirmed in the sub-counties of Butanda, Kahungye, Rubaya Kyanamira, Maziba, Kaharo, Ryakarimira town council, and Kabale municipality.

Dr Jimmy Obwooya, the acting Kabale District Veterinary Officer says that last month, his office started receiving complaints of goats and sheep dying in the communities. Obwooya says that the veterinary team collected samples from goats and sheep that were being slaughtered at Kabale municipality abattoir and other sub-counties where animals were dying and sent them to the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre-NADDEC for examination.

He says that results from the centre confirmed the presence of Goat plague disease. Without mentioning the exact figure, Obwooya says that many goats and sheep have succumbed to the disease in the district and are yet to ascertain the source of the disease.

Obwooya advises farmers to be on high alert by controlling unnecessary animal movements as the district veterinary department liaises with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to provide vaccines.

Dickson Kamuhanda, a farmer from Butanda sub-county says that the disease has killed more than 50 goats in the sub-county.

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