County government of makueni vaccinates 199,223 animals in their annual vaccination exercise

The County Government of Makueni, through the Veterinary Directorate, has successfully concluded the annual mass livestock vaccination exercise that began in June 2025.
During the exercise, a total of 199,223 animals from 33,566 households were vaccinated across 602 sites in the county.
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The targeted diseases included
1. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

It is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hooved livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer). It is caused by an apthovirus from the Picornaviridae family and spreads rapidly through direct contact, aerosols, or contaminated materials.

Key Features:

a. Symptoms: Fever, blisters/ulcers in the mouth, on the tongue, and around the hooves, leading to excessive drooling, lameness, and reluctance to eat or move.

b. Mortality: Low in adult animals but high in young animals due to myocarditis (heart inflammation).

c. Economic Impact: Severe due to trade restrictions, reduced milk/meat production, and costly containment measures

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2. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
It is known for painful skin nodules in cattle; and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a deadly respiratory infection in goats. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a viral infection affecting cattle and water buffalo, caused by the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), a member of the Capripoxvirus genus . It is characterized by fever, skin nodules, swollen lymph nodes, and reduced milk production, with transmission primarily occurring through blood-feeding insects like mosquitoes and ticks . The disease can lead to significant economic losses due to hide damage, decreased productivity, and trade restrictions
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The vaccination exercise saw 71,692 animals protected against LSD, 29,342 against FMD, 92,532 against CCPP and 937 vaccinated against Rabies,
This program underscores the county’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods by preventing disease outbreaks, improving animal health and boosting livestock productivity across Makueni.