The Sunday News
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government through the Department of Veterinary Services has distributed the new locally manufactured vaccine (Bolvac) that is expected to bring an end to the devastation being caused by the Theileriosis disease in livestock.
Theileriosis is a disease of cattle that is transmitted by ticks. The highest number of cases of theileriosis tends to be encountered in January when traditionally the rainfall activity will be high, hence the common name, January disease. The January disease killed about 500 000 cattle worth US$175 million at its peak between 2017 and 2019.
The disease is characterised by fever, massive swelling of the lymph nodes, cessation of grazing, discharge from the eyes and nose, loss of body condition, and death. It is caused by a parasite called
Theileria Parva found in the blood which is transmitted between cattle by ticks.
In an interview with Sunday News, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka said more than 20 000 doses have been produced and distributed to specific problematic districts.
“The Second Republic has availed resources to the Department of Veterinary Technical Services in my ministry. We have produced 20 000 doses of Bolvac which is the vaccine. We have deployed these into seven problematic districts. The tests are starting now because the rainy season is upon us and as it is called the January disease it mostly peaks in January,” said Dr Masuka.
The hallmark in the control of the January disease, like all other tick-borne diseases, is to control the tick vector. One of the key components in controlling this can be achieved by regular dipping.
Additionally, the application of tick grease in the ear, under the tail, and tail brush should be done. Where communal dips are not available, or dipping is not being done, farmers should make alternative arrangements and spray their cattle, experts have said.
“In addition to the Bolvac vaccine, the tick grease distribution is also going ahead. Once there is success with this Bolvac it means that we will have two angles to attack the disease which is the tick grease and the vaccine. We are also rehabilitating deep tanks. Of the 4 000 deep tanks that we have, now over 3000 are functional.
With the Presidential Rural Development Programme we will be able to put water at these deep tanks so that we will have water throughout the year, so we are doing so much so that we contain the January disease,” said Dr Masuka.
Between 2014 and 2020, Zimbabwe lost about 15 328 cattle due to tick-borne diseases resulting in huge economic losses in cattle assets and farm savings in the country.
However, various measures put in place have seen a reduction in diseases. In 2020 the country witnessed a 47 percent reduction in diseases and in 2021 it saw 39 percent reduction in animal diseases, a development that Government have attributed to various measures being put in place.
Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo Provinces are some of the most problematic areas with districts that include Chimanimani, Chipinge, Buhera, Chikomba, Gutu and Bikita being the most prioritised in curbing the January disease.
Farmers have however, been warned to be aware of counterfeit dipping chemicals on the informal market, and are best advised to source dip chemicals from reputable suppliers of agrochemicals and veterinary products. — Follow on Twitter @nyeve14
