ALFRED JAWOKO

PAKWACH: Pakwach District has imposed quarantine on animal movement following an outbreak of contagious diseases.

The district authorities say the quarantine follows a confirmed outbreak of contagious Caprine and Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia in at least five sub-counties in the district.

Dr Robert Canpara, the District Veterinary officer told Paidha fm reporter that the infection has been confirmed in five of the ten Sub-counties of Panyango, Alwi, Pakwach, Panyimur and Panyimur Town Council.

Canpara adds that by the time they of compiling this report, the district had registered 146 herds of cattle and 624 goats infected. He adds that out of the registered number, 26 herds of cattle and 246 goats died.

Meanwhile Pakwach resident district commissioner Paul Eseru, said movement of cattle and goats, or their products from one Sub-county to another has been suspended until the situation normalizes in the affected areas.

Eseru further said Slaughtering, consumption and sale of meat has equally been suspended until further notice in order to allow easy management of the outbreak without spreading to the clean Sub-counties both within the district and the neighboring areas.

The quarantine will take 2 weeks according to reports from the Resident District commissioner’s office.

However, some economists assert that the ban might affect the price of meat in Pakwach and scarcity from the affected sub-counties.

Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats and Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle is a severe animal disease considered a major obstacle to cattle production according to the Food and Agricultural Organization.