Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
AN outbreak of Newcastle disease has been reported in Lupane district, Matabeleland North province amid reports that hundreds of chickens have died from the highly contagious bird disease.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union Lupane district chairman Mr Dingani Bernard Dlodlo said the first Newcastle disease outbreak was reported on 18 September in Goshanga and St Paul villages. Late last month a suspected outbreak of the disease was also reported in Umguza district.
“A lot of chickens have died of Newcastle since last month and the disease continues to spread as villagers are defying movement restrictions by the Department of Veterinary Services while others are refusing to vaccinate their birds claiming that they lost virtually all their chickens from the previous outbreak about 10 years ago after they vaccinated them but this is out of ignorance as the chickens are likely to have been affected before being vaccinated,” Mr Dlodlo said.
Thousands of chickens succumbed to Newcastle disease in Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central Provinces in 2005.
“The Veterinary Services has supplied the vaccines to all the affected villages and even trained five villagers in each of the villages to conduct the vaccination process,” Mr Dlodlo said.
Matabeleland North provincial veterinary services officer Dr Polex Moyo confirmed the outbreak but said the situation was under control.
“The outbreak occurred about three weeks ago and a number of chickens died. Community based vaccinators are currently conducting vaccinations in that area. We have since distributed enough vaccines in all the districts,” Dr Moyo said.
Newcastle disease is a contagious bird disease affecting many domestic and wild avian species, it is transmissible to humans.
It was first identified in Java, Indonesia, in 1926, and in 1927 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England (where it got its name).
However, it may have been prevalent as early as 1898, when a disease wiped out all the domestic fowl in northwest Scotland.
Its effects are most notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and the potential for severe impacts of an epizootic on the poultry industries. It is endemic to many countries.
