Agriculture CS Willy Bett has tried to
allay fears of a rinderpest outbreak in
Kenya or in neigbouring countries.
He said what has been reported is an
outbreak of anthrax in wild animals in
Tanzania.
Bett said the anthrax outbreak has
raised concerns that it’s an outbreak of
the devastating contagious rinderpest
disease.
“I want to clarify from the
onset that rinderpest, a devastating
contagious animal disease ,also known
as cattle plague, was successfully
eradicated the world over in 2011,” he
said.
The CS said Kenya eradicated the
disease in 2009 and a certificate was
issued to that effect by the World
Organization for Animal Health.
In a statement, the CS said
confirmation from the veterinary
authorities in Tanzania indicate that
the outbreak was indeed anthrax, not
rinderpest .
Bett said Kenya has an active and
passive surveillance programme that
ensures there is no reemergence of
rinderpest.
“This surveillance programme also
ensures that other transboundary
animal diseases are controlled to
safeguard our livestock and trade,” the
CS said.
