Residents of Alebtong district are complaining about lack of livestock markets and have asked the government to consider lifting the quarantine imposed four months ago.
All animal markets in the area were banned after the ministry of agriculture imposed a quarantine following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
The ban prohibits the sale of any livestock including cattle and goats among others plus all the diary products in the district. The outbreak was reported in Awei, Abako, Omoro, Anara and Amugu sub counties.
Bosco Ojok, a resident of Abukamola parish in Omoro Sub County, with about 6 heads of cattle, says he has since failed to pay his children’s school fees since he cannot sell his animals to raise money.
Ojok argued that since animal vaccination has been completed, the veterinary authority should now consider lifting the ban so that they are allowed to sell their animals.
Mathew Odyek, a local resident of Corner Aloi in Aloi Sub County, complained that as a result of the quarantine which was imposed in February, he was not able to bring back his oxen which were with his brother in Lira district. He says this has affected his farming activities.
Odyek claimed that it was those oxen which he used to plough his huge gardens but now he was not able to grow anything during the first rainy season.
But Dr. Charles Noki, the Alebtong district veterinary officer, told URN this week that they finished mass animal vaccination last month and he is waiting for a communication from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr. Noki says if the ban is lifted prematurely it may lead to another outbreak.
Foot-and-mouth also known as hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects hoofed animals including domestic and wild bovid. The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
