NYAGATARE - Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority, (RARDA) has kicked off a massive vaccination campaign against foot and mouth disease.

Foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle and other animals like sheep and goats.

Speaking to The New Times on Tuesday, Augustin Zimulinda, RARDA representative in the Eastern Province, said that the institution is on the alert, following reports of the disease outbreak in the neighbouring countries of Uganda and Tanzania.

"We have information that there is an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Uganda and Tanzania and these countries border the Eastern Province. That’s why we have decided to carry out mass vaccination for prevention purposes,” he said.

Zimulinda added that the exercise has kicked off from highly prone zones where the disease can easily spill over.
"The vaccination starts with danger zones. These are the sectors that are very close to these countries where we suspect the disease can spread easily,” he said.

In Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts, he said, the vaccination will start in the sectors of Matimba, Rwempasha, Karangazi and Rwimbogo while in Kayonza district it will start in the sectors of Mulundi and Mwiru.

Zimulinda called on cattle farmers in the province to be vigilant and embrace the exercise by taking their cattle for vaccination.

"It is a dangerous disease that kills animals instantly. We call upon cattle farmers to support this preventive measure” he said.

Ends