Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called for urgent interventions of the federal government through the nationwide vacation of cows to curtail the outbreak of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).
General Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Othman Ngelzarma made the call while briefing the newsmen about the disease outbreak in Bauchi and FCT on Wednesday, October 23rd in Abuja.
Ngelzarma, who decried the devastating effect of the disease, said no fewer than 2,000 cows had been killed by CBPP within the states in less than two months.
CBPP is an infectious disease of cattle caused by the mycoplasma mycoides bacteria, which causes inflammation and enlargement of the lungs. The inflammation can lead to fluid accumulation in the chest cavity and the destruction of lung tissue.
The damaged areas of lung are often hardened interfering with effective breathing and cause cattle to die from lack of oxygen.
It is spread through the inhalation of airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing animals.
Ngelzarma, who allayed fear about the devastating effect of the disease, however, emphasised that failure of the government to ensure prompt intervention through vaccination would amount to its spread to neighbouring states of Nasarawa and others.
Ngelzarma said in Bauchi, almost all the local governments had been affected with no fewer than 2,000 cows dying from the disease in the region within two months as reported by the MACBAN Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Shanu in the state.
