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Low uptake of Bolvac vaccine worries Mat South Vet Services
18 hrs ago |
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The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Matabeleland South has urged farmers to take up the Bolvac vaccine, which provides lifelong immunity against January Disease (Theileriosis), amid concern over low uptake in one of Zimbabwe's worst-affected provinces.
In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the province currently has about 8 000 doses of the vaccine, most of which remain unused despite improved compliance with the recommended cattle dipping programme.
"While the situation regarding January Disease has generally improved, there is still serious concern about the low uptake of the Bolvac vaccine. By this time, we would have preferred all available doses to have been taken up by farmers, particularly in hotspot areas," said Dr Mdlongwa.
He identified Umzingwane and Insiza districts as the main hotspots for January Disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the protozoan Theileria, which typically intensifies during the rainy season.
January Disease has historically caused significant economic losses in Matabeleland South, a province where cattle rearing forms the backbone of livelihoods.
Dr Mdlongwa said the province is now recording significantly fewer cattle deaths compared to 2022 and 2023, attributing the improvement to better adherence to dipping schedules.
"Deaths are relatively low because farmers have improved their dipping practices. However, vaccination offers an added advantage because it provides lifelong immunity against January Disease," he said.
Before recent outbreaks, most districts recorded about 50 percent compliance with dipping requirements, but some areas have now improved to around 90 percent.
Dr Mdlongwa urged farmers who are still lagging behind to strictly adhere to the dipping regime, warning that tick-borne diseases increase sharply during the rainy season.
Farmers in January Disease hotspot areas were reminded to follow the 5-5-4 dipping regime, while those in other areas are required to dip their animals weekly until April.
Under the 5-5-4 system, cattle are dipped after five days, dipped again after another five days, then after four days, before reverting to a five-day cycle.
"We are in the wet season when tick activity is very high. Diseases such as January Disease, redwater, gall sickness and sweating sickness pose a serious threat to livestock," said Dr Mdlongwa.
He warned that failure by even a single farmer to comply could undermine disease control efforts across the province.
"A single tick can lay more than 2 000 eggs, which can rapidly spread across an entire herd. Leaving even one animal undipped renders the whole process ineffective," he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said the Government, under the Second Republic, has put measures in place to ensure farmers can access dip tanks within reasonable distances.
He urged traditional leaders to closely supervise dipping programmes and take action against farmers who fail to comply with regulations.
"The Government has relaxed legislation that required each dip tank to service 500 cattle. This has resulted in more dip tanks being constructed and others rehabilitated, reducing the distance animals have to travel," he said.
In some communities, farmers have taken the initiative to construct dip tanks themselves, a move Dr Mdlongwa said should be encouraged.
"If we work together as a province, we can preserve our cattle herd. Farmers must also pay the dipping levy to ensure a consistent supply of dip chemicals," he said.
The Department of Veterinary Services continues to conduct awareness campaigns on disease prevention and control.
Livestock production remains a critical component of livelihoods for most Zimbabweans, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, employment and economic growth.
The Bolvac vaccine was first produced by the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in 1989 using a local Theileria parva strain. Production was discontinued in the late 1990s due to technical and financial challenges but resumed in 2022 following Government support and partner-funded training.
The CVL produced its first batch of about 20 000 doses on August 20, 2022, marking a major milestone in Zimbabwe's fight against January Disease.
In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director Dr Enat Mdlongwa said the province currently has about 8 000 doses of the vaccine, most of which remain unused despite improved compliance with the recommended cattle dipping programme.
"While the situation regarding January Disease has generally improved, there is still serious concern about the low uptake of the Bolvac vaccine. By this time, we would have preferred all available doses to have been taken up by farmers, particularly in hotspot areas," said Dr Mdlongwa.
He identified Umzingwane and Insiza districts as the main hotspots for January Disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the protozoan Theileria, which typically intensifies during the rainy season.
January Disease has historically caused significant economic losses in Matabeleland South, a province where cattle rearing forms the backbone of livelihoods.
Dr Mdlongwa said the province is now recording significantly fewer cattle deaths compared to 2022 and 2023, attributing the improvement to better adherence to dipping schedules.
"Deaths are relatively low because farmers have improved their dipping practices. However, vaccination offers an added advantage because it provides lifelong immunity against January Disease," he said.
Before recent outbreaks, most districts recorded about 50 percent compliance with dipping requirements, but some areas have now improved to around 90 percent.
Dr Mdlongwa urged farmers who are still lagging behind to strictly adhere to the dipping regime, warning that tick-borne diseases increase sharply during the rainy season.
Farmers in January Disease hotspot areas were reminded to follow the 5-5-4 dipping regime, while those in other areas are required to dip their animals weekly until April.
Under the 5-5-4 system, cattle are dipped after five days, dipped again after another five days, then after four days, before reverting to a five-day cycle.
He warned that failure by even a single farmer to comply could undermine disease control efforts across the province.
"A single tick can lay more than 2 000 eggs, which can rapidly spread across an entire herd. Leaving even one animal undipped renders the whole process ineffective," he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said the Government, under the Second Republic, has put measures in place to ensure farmers can access dip tanks within reasonable distances.
He urged traditional leaders to closely supervise dipping programmes and take action against farmers who fail to comply with regulations.
"The Government has relaxed legislation that required each dip tank to service 500 cattle. This has resulted in more dip tanks being constructed and others rehabilitated, reducing the distance animals have to travel," he said.
In some communities, farmers have taken the initiative to construct dip tanks themselves, a move Dr Mdlongwa said should be encouraged.
"If we work together as a province, we can preserve our cattle herd. Farmers must also pay the dipping levy to ensure a consistent supply of dip chemicals," he said.
The Department of Veterinary Services continues to conduct awareness campaigns on disease prevention and control.
Livestock production remains a critical component of livelihoods for most Zimbabweans, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, employment and economic growth.
The Bolvac vaccine was first produced by the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in 1989 using a local Theileria parva strain. Production was discontinued in the late 1990s due to technical and financial challenges but resumed in 2022 following Government support and partner-funded training.
The CVL produced its first batch of about 20 000 doses on August 20, 2022, marking a major milestone in Zimbabwe's fight against January Disease.
Source - The Chronicle
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