Jigawa council vaccinates 3,000 livestock against lung disease

Some of the affected livestock during the vaccination exercise. Credit: Kaugama Information Office.

No fewer than 3,105 domestic animals have been targeted to be vaccinated against pulmonary disease in Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa State to curb the spread of the deadly infection.

Speaking during the flagging off of the vaccination exercise held on Saturday in the area, the Head of Department, Agriculture and Natural Resource, Kaugama LGA, Nasir Ibrahim, said the scheme will be conducted across all affected communities in the domain.

He disclosed that the council embarked on the exercise following reported cases of pulmonary disease among livestock in three communities in the area.

He said the affected animals are 2,045 cows and 1,060 sheep and goats in Cumbuleske, Ganuwa and Rigar Kwagga communities.

“The local government council has procured vaccines and other necessary logistics to forestall future occurrence and spread of the disease,” Ibrahim said.

He explained that the disease is often caused by bacterial pneumonia secondary to viral infections, which leads to difficulty in breathing and coughing in animals.

“Parasites such as lungworms and toxic environmental factors including herbicide toxicity can also cause severe lung damage in livestock,” he added.

According to him, the council will continue to monitor the situation and extend the vaccination to other communities if need be.

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Commenting during the exercise, the Chairman of Kautal-Hore Association in the area, Sha’aibu Adamu, commended the council’s effort, saying the LGA chairman took prompt action after receiving reports of the outbreak from herders.

“We appreciate the council chairman for his quick response to save our livestock, which is our only source of livelihood,” Adamu said.

A beneficiary, Umaru Bello, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent shortly after the flag-off, said the intervention came at the right time.

Bello said, “Many of our cows were coughing and struggling to breathe; we thank the local government for bringing this vaccine to our community.”

Another beneficiary, Maigari Alto, also said that the exercise will reduce losses among pastoralists.

“We have lost some animals before this exercise; this vaccination will help us protect the remaining ones,” he stated.