El Nino will lead to increased incidents of livestock diseases – Vet expert warns

Former Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) President […]

Former Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) President who is also a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Malcolm Chiyoba has warned that the projected El Niño will force animals to eat poison from the soil and die.

 Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Dr Chiyoba said drought does not just bring hunger, it brings disease.

 “Indeed, drought contributes or is a risk factor to outbreak of diseases such as anthrax and many others,” he said.

Dr. Chiyoba explained that anthrax spores live in the soil for decades and starving animals are forced to graze dangerously close to the ground where the poison is. “Animals, like cattle or ruminants, they’ll get it when they graze from the soil, the spores that cause disease are usually kept in the soil,” he said.

The senior veterinarian said what has happened in Muchinga Province where 12 people have been infected, 46 hippos, eight elephants, five buffaloes and one crocodile have died since July is a warning of what is coming as animals move long distances searching for water and pasture.

“We expect definitely increased outbreaks, and not just anthrax and other diseases in times of drought like El Niño,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Chiyoba reminded Zambians of the Sinazongwe disaster where people ate dead hippos and infected their own cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. He warned that anthrax is not just an animal disease, it kills people and has even been used as a biological weapon.

“The bad thing about that disease, it affects human beings also, it’s a terrible disease that affects human beings, that’s called a zoonosis,” said Dr. Chiyoba.

He has challenged farmers to stop waiting for government handouts and vaccinate their own animals using the affordable Zambian-made vaccine.

 “Vaccines such as those of anthrax are easily accessible and quite affordable for every farmer,” said Dr. Chiyoba.

He has also issued a stern warning to the public to never eat or butcher any animal found dead, as opening the carcass spreads spores that will poison grazing land for over 100 years.

“An animal that dies on its own should not be consumed, such an animal should be reported to veterinary officials nearby,” said Dr. Chiyoba.

Article by Philip Sinkala