The sudden death of 10 cows supplied to farmers in Hoima under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has prompted the district veterinary department to launch a mass cattle vaccination exercise.
Charles Kajura, the district veterinary officer, says the dead cattle were from farms in Busiisi and Kyabigambire sub-counties. He says it is suspected that all the cattle died of foot and mouth disease.
The highly contagious disease has also been reported in the sub-counties of Bugambe, Buhanika, Buseruka and Kigorobya.
Kajura says Hoima has received 2,000 doses of animal vaccines to help in the exercise. He says the aim is to vaccinate all livestock in the district against foot and mouth disease.
The vaccination will start in sub-counties that share borders with Masindi and Buliisa districts where several cases of foot and mouth disease have been reported.
In addition to this exercise, the veterinary department is sending peer educators to the countryside to sensitize farmers on how to protect their livestock from disease and how to avoid cross-infection.
