Cattle movement banned in Manyinga

AUTHORITIES in Manyinga district have banned the movement of cattle in and outside the district.This is due to the outbreak of the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in the North-western province district.So far, over 30 cattle farmers in Kavungu, Kalolwa, Kandala, Kamyeji and st Kalemba areas of manyinga have confirmed reports of the disease.This came to light during a CBPP stakeholders’ awareness meeting organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in that district.Acting District fisheries and livestock Coordinator, Kelvin Mutangama, stated that the ban was in accordance with section 12,22 and 23 of the Animal Health Act No 27of the laws of Zambia.He stated that with the ban in effect, all slaughtered animals at abattoirs and slaughter slabs would need anti and post mortem inspections.The department of veterinary would conduct the exercise with support from public health inspectors from the Ministry of Health and the local authority.“For now, the only prevention for this disease is restricting the movement of infected animals to uninfected communities,” he said.He cautioned local farmers against selling live cattle especially animals bought from outside Manyinga district unless in caucus form.Mr Mutangama said CBPP is a deadly disease and if not contained can wipe out all the cattle and starve the district with the much needed beef.He however indicated that in as much as CBPP affects cattle, the disease has no immediate effects on human beings saying the beef can be safely consumed without problems.He said CBPP spreads fast in animals and that if one cattle tests positive it means all other contact cattle are prone to get infected with the disease.“And any cattle found with the disease must be slaughtered immediately together with all other contact cattle in that community,” he said.Manyinga District Commissioner, Geoffrey Malayiti, who is also CBPP District task force chairman, advised all cattle traders and butchery owners to ensure that they only stock Beef for cattle from within the district. The Sun