Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has
called for urgent interventions of governments through a nationwide
vacation of cows to curtail the outbreak of Contagious Bovine
Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).
The General Secretary of MACBAN, Othman Ngelzarma, made the call while
briefing journalists about the disease outbreak in Bauchi and FCT on
Wednesday in Abuja.
Ngelzarma, who decried the devastating effect of the disease, said at
least 2,000 cows had been killed by CBPP within the states in less
than two months.
CBPP is an infectious disease of cattle caused by the mycoplasma
mycoides bacteria, which causes inflammation and enlargement of the
lungs.
The inflammation can lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity
and destruction of lung tissue. The damaged areas of lung are often
hardened interfering with effective breathing and cause cattle to die
from lack of oxygen.
It is spread through the inhalation of airborne droplets from coughing
or sneezing animals.
Ngelzarma, who allayed fear about the devastating effect of the
disease, however, emphasised that failure of the government to ensure
prompt intervention through vaccination would amount to its spread to
neighbouring states of Nasarawa and others.
He decried that pastoralists were silently losing their cows, day in
day out due to the epidemic.
“In FCT, about 200 cows were killed and the disease is fast spreading
across those areas that are affected. Our fear is that if nothing is
done fast, it will escalate to Nasarawa state and most of the
neighbouring states.
“It is a disease that if not checked immediately in few years time
more than half of cows belonging to MACBAN members will perish.
“Surprisingly when such epidemic occurs, you can hardly find the
states or Federal Governments coming to the aid of the herders.
“The disease is affecting neighbouring communities gradually, so very
soon you will hear the spread in Nasarawa and most neighbouring states
if nothing is done by the Federal Government and state government.
“So, we call on the Federal and state governments to come up with
vaccination plan to check the spread of this disease and to come up
with palliatives for those families that have been affected by this
diseases and other crises,” Ngelzarma said.
He described MACBAN members as still suffering a vicious cycle of
poverty due to insurgency in the northeast.
He said factors causing poverty were cattle rustling, banditry and
kidnapping among others and emphasised that till date there were no
interventions from governments for the affected members.
According to him, in spite of these crises and epidemic, none of the
association members that lost their means of livelihood have enjoyed
any form of palliatives from government or serious vaccination to
their cows.
