Following numerous consultations from authorities, the temporary quarantine imposed on the meat trade in Kabarole district and Fort Portal city is set to be lifted after almost two months.
As a way of preventing further spread of the foot and mouth disease that was reported in the region earlier this year, measures including movement restrictions on livestock and suspension of slaughterhouses and trade were implemented by Dr. Anna Rose Ademun, Commissioner of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries.
During a recent meeting with butchers at Kitumba District headquarters in Fort Portal city, Dr. Stanley Businge announced that after consultations with various stakeholders, the quarantine on animal trade would be lifted in the coming two days.
Businge, emphasized the implementation of strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent the disease’s further spread, including centralizing slaughtering, prohibiting cattle movement and roadside grazing, selling of milk in polythene bags among other measures.
On the same matter, Businge noted that Fort Portal city had reported 93 cases of foot and mouth disease among cattle, with no recorded fatalities. He further mentioned that 2122 cattle had been successfully vaccinated, with plans for mandatory vaccination every six months to maintain disease control.
