Jonglei: UN veterinary doctors report outbreak of goat disease

August 28, 2013 (BOR)- United Nations veterinary doctors have reported an increase in Bor of “Pest des Petits Ruminants” (PPR) also referred to as goats’ plague, a contagious goat disease.

According to Col. Shiba Kumar, a veterinary doctor running a UN clinic in Bor, PPR is highly contagious and a dangerous disease to goats. He said one of the symptoms of the disease is diarrhoea.

“You can also see thick discharge from the nose”, he said on Monday, adding that the animal can die of dehydration quickly.

PPR cases are common in all the five Payams of Bor County as well as in the other counties but lack of accessibility to the UN clinic in Bor makes it difficult for farmers to bring their animals for treatment.

Out of 1,651 goats treated at the UN clinic from October 2012 to July 2013, many were found to have been infected with PPR. During this period, 5624 cattle were also treated.

Goat farmers in Bor are happy that their animals can get treatment unlike in the past. Manyang Akol is one such farmer.

“You just take your goats to the clinic in Bor and they get treated from any kind of diseases. To me I though this disease was a curse and I even went to the church and asked the people to pray for my animals. I offered one He goat to the church as well but nothing changed”, said Akol.

The UN mobile veterinary clinic has treated a total 13,313 animals including goats and cattle in Pibor, Boma, Jalle, Yuai and Malual-chat.

In cattle trypanosomiasis, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Tuberculosis (TB), East Coat Fever and Brucellosis were found to be the commonest diseases according to Col. Shiba Kumar.

Kumar cautioned farmers against consuming raw milk as its consumption can lead to transmition of TB and Brucellosis from animals to humans.

(ST)