Farmers in Narok West Sub County have been advised to vaccinate their animals against Lumpy Skin Disease following an outbreak in the area.
Narok West Veterinary Officer Dr. Mathew Nchoko said vaccination is the only sure way to eliminate the disease that is spread by Arthropod vectors and mainly affects calves and weak animals.
The veterinary officer explained that the disease is highly contagious and fatal if the animal is not treated on time.
The clinical signs of the disease, according to the veterinary officer are; fever, lacrimation, hyper salivation and skin eruptions.
He encouraged farmers to vaccinate their animals so as to reduce losses and increase production in their animals, adding that vaccinating one animal costs only Sh30.
“The vector spreads fast during the rainy season. I advise farmers to vaccinate their animals to prevent the disease as we approach the long rainy season,” reiterated Dr. Nchoko.
The disease has been reported in the recent past in almost all parts of Narok County and neighbouring counties like Kajiado, Homabay and Nakuru.
Kasio Ole Leng’etu, a farmer who lost a number of his animals to the disease, said the livestock started becoming weak, reduced milk production and had skin eruptions.
“It hurts when we lose a single animal because these are not just livestock but they are our livelihood,” he decried.
Another farmer, Mama Sophia Supati, said she realised her cattle were not okay when they reduced milk production and were reluctant to eat anything.
After two weeks, the animals started developing lumps on the skin, prompting her to seek help from a veterinary officer.
She was lucky her animals were treated on time while those that had not been affected by the disease were vaccinated.
Mama Supati advised all livestock keepers to vaccinate their animals early enough, noting that it is much cheaper to vaccinate a single cow than to treat it.
By Ann Salaton and Mishmar Neymah