Disease

Zimbabwe Battles New Cattle Disease Outbreak

AN outbreak of lumpy skin cattle disease in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe is feared to have left 5 000 cattle affected.

The worst affected areas include Gutu , Masvingo, Zaka, Bikita, Mwenezi and Chiredzi.

The Department of Veterinary Services is currently carrying out vaccinations of all cattle in the province amid reports of shortages of vaccines and veterinaries.

The outbreak of the lumpy skin cattle disease coincided with farmers in Chiredzi and Mwenezi battling to contain the foot and mouth disease.

Movement of cattle in Chiredzi, Mwenezi and parts of Bikita has been suspended due to the disease.

All public cattle auctions have also been suspended in areas were the disease has wrecked havoc.

Last year, there were no cattle on show at the Masvingo Agricultural Show following an outbreak of foot and mouth in Mwenezi and Chiredzi Districts.

These are traditionally cattle ranching areas in the country.

Such setbacks have hampered plans to rebuild the national herd, which was decimated by the drought suffered in 1992.