Livestock quarantine over FMD spreads to Kumi and Bukedea in Uganda

The quarantine of livestock in order to curtail the spread of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) has spread to the districts of Kumi and Bukedea. The development follows reports of hundreds of animals being infected by the disease in the two districts. It should be noted that there are several districts around the country which are already under livestock movement quarantine over the viral disease. These include Nakasongola and Kasese. Robert Ojara, the regional veterinary officer, says FMD is one of the contagious livestock diseases, which affects the cloven-hoofed animals that include cattle, buffalos, sheep, goats, pigs and camels among others. FMD is one of the transboundary diseases that are still a problem to Uganda’s livestock sector because of the cross-border movement of livestock and also proximity to national parks that have animals like buffalos that spread FMD. Ojara says the disease spreads in animals through breath from infected animals, salvia, mucus, milk and feaces ...