News / Regional
Matabeleland cattle contract measles
23 Aug 2015 at 10:42hrs | Views
The deadly measles disease is said to be attacking cattle in Matabeleland region which is fuelled by the lack of ablution facilities for human beings in most of the areas.
Matabeleland South provincial veterinary officer Dr Mbuso Moyo said cases of cattle measles were mainly reported in areas with rampant gold panning activities.
"Cattle measles is mostly reported in areas where people don't have sanitary facilities. As a result cattle become infected when they eat grass with eggs passed from the faeces of an infected person. Human beings are host to the measles tapeworm.
"It looks as if cases of cattle measles are most prevalent in areas where there are rampant gold mining activities and it makes sense because these people don't have proper ablution facilities they just relieve themselves in the open."
"About 60 to 70 cattle are condemned in a year in Matabeleland and this has drastic economic repercussions on farmers. Since the disease affects both animals and human beings there is a need for a multi-stakeholders approach in dealing with it and in this regard the Ministry of Health and Child Care's involvement is of paramount importance," Dr Moyo said.
The measles infection, which is also called beef measles, cysticercosis or bladder worm, appears on an animal as bean-sized cysticerci. They are oval, greyish-white, fluid-filled bladder-like objects about 10 mm long by 5mm wide.
Matabeleland South provincial veterinary officer Dr Mbuso Moyo said cases of cattle measles were mainly reported in areas with rampant gold panning activities.
"Cattle measles is mostly reported in areas where people don't have sanitary facilities. As a result cattle become infected when they eat grass with eggs passed from the faeces of an infected person. Human beings are host to the measles tapeworm.
"It looks as if cases of cattle measles are most prevalent in areas where there are rampant gold mining activities and it makes sense because these people don't have proper ablution facilities they just relieve themselves in the open."
"About 60 to 70 cattle are condemned in a year in Matabeleland and this has drastic economic repercussions on farmers. Since the disease affects both animals and human beings there is a need for a multi-stakeholders approach in dealing with it and in this regard the Ministry of Health and Child Care's involvement is of paramount importance," Dr Moyo said.
The measles infection, which is also called beef measles, cysticercosis or bladder worm, appears on an animal as bean-sized cysticerci. They are oval, greyish-white, fluid-filled bladder-like objects about 10 mm long by 5mm wide.
Source - Sunday News
