January disease ravages Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe

Source: January disease ravages Mat South –Newsday Zimbabwe FARMERS around the Fort Rixon area in Matabeleland South province, who are losing heads of cattle to the January disease, have appealed for urgent government intervention. January disease, officially known as Theileriosis, is a severe sickness transmitted in livestock by ticks. Theileriosis tends to be encountered in January when the rainfall activity is high, hence the name, January disease. Some villagers have reportedly lost up to 50 beasts or more per household, while cattle buyers are reportedly cashing in on the desperate farmers who are disposing of their animals for a song fearing total loss. Matabeleland South Veterinary head Enart Mdlongwa confirmed the deaths, citing the failure by farmers to dip their cattle as well as controlling the illegal movement of animals for the surge in cattle deaths. “The problem has been from last year and we are in the area. People were not taking heed and they started losing ...