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The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock says it has dispatched 600,000 doses of anthrax vaccine for mass vaccination campaigns in selected districts as part of measures to prevent the spread of the disease among livestock.
Director of Veterinary Services, Charles Maseka, said there were currently no recorded cases of anthrax in domestic livestock.
Speaking during a media briefing in Livingstone, Maseka said the vaccines had been distributed to provinces identified as requiring enhanced anthrax prevention and control measures.
Of the 600,000 doses, 100,000 have been allocated to Southern Province, 58,000 to Eastern Province, 462,000 to Western Province and 20,000 to Muchinga Province.
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“Mass vaccination exercises have since commenced in selected districts in the affected and high-risk areas as part of Government’s measures to protect livestock and prevent the spread of anthrax,” Maseka said.
He urged farmers to cooperate with veterinary authorities and ensure their livestock were vaccinated when vaccination teams reached their areas.
Maseka also urged farmers to report sudden or unexplained livestock deaths to veterinary authorities and avoid handling or consuming meat from animals that had died unexpectedly.
“The Department of Veterinary Services remains committed to strengthening disease prevention, surveillance and control measures to safeguard livestock, protect livelihoods and support food and nutrition security,” he said.
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