Elgeyo Marakwet launches Foot and Mouth vaccination campaign

The County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet’s department of agriculture is putting in place mechanisms to conduct ring vaccination following an outbreak of Food and Mouth disease in Samabul and Loboen villages in Kabiemit, Keiyo South.

The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Shadrack Yatich, said that so far 10 animals showed signs of the disease in that area bordering Elgeyo Marakwet County and Uasin Gishu.

At the same time, Yatich assured the residents that they are liaising with the department of agriculture in Uasin Gishu County to ensure that they conduct a similar programme to get rid of the disease completely.

However, he encouraged cattle traders to ensure that they liaise with the veterinary officers to ascertain the health status of the animals before they buy them to ensure that they don’t spread the disease.

In November 2015, the county conducted a round vaccination after one cow was reported to have displayed some signs of the disease, a situation which prompted the closure of the auctions around.