The Adamawa State government does not want to be caught napping and thereby record avoidable losses in its livestock. It has, therefore, started surveillance and planning a massive vaccination campaign against haemorrhagic septicaemia, a disease suspected to have caused the death of more than 1,000 cows in neighbouring Taraba State. Suleiman Aminu, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture, disclosed this to journalists in Yola.
According to him, the disease is suspected to have killed over 1,000 cows in the Sardauna LGA of Taraba, which borders Adamawa. And the authorities in Adamawa would wait for it to be caught unaware, so it decided to take a preemptive measure.
He told the media men, “With the confirmed cases of the disease in Gembu, Taraba, and its spread to other LGAs, the ministry has summoned all divisional veterinary officers to intensify efforts and conduct thorough examinations to prevent the disease from reaching Adamawa.
“Although samples are still being tested at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Laboratory in Vom, Plateau, our Taraba counterparts have confirmed that a mass vaccination will soon commence across the state.”
Mr. Aminu explained that the disease was a bacterial-borne one, primarily affecting cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs.
He noted that Symptoms include high fever, swelling, especially on the neck, depression, and difficulty in breathing, and can cause death in less than 24 hours. He mentioned that the ministry has already sent a memo to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to approve the purchase of drugs for mass vaccinations. He appealed to Adamawa residents to remain vigilant and report suspected cases to the ministry, veterinary clinics, or officials.
