Foot-and-mouth disease reported in northwest

Foot-and-mouth disease was reported last week in the northwestern province of Gisenyi, Rwandan Director of Animal Husbandry in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Isidore Gafarasi announced in Kigali on Monday, according to Rwanda News Agency (RNA). "The disease has been identified in the district of Mutura, Gishwati sector in Gisenyi province," Gafarasi said, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture has enacted quarantines in the region to halt the spread of the disease. The outbreak of the disease follows another that occurred in northeastern Umutara province five months ago, resulting in the doubling of the prices of milk and beef due to the quarantine imposed on cattle and their products. According to the Gisenyi Director of Animal Husbandry Francois Kamanzi, the outbreak is linked to an affected cow that was transported from the neighbouring province of Ruhengeri. "As of now, 16 cows have been found with the disease," Kamanzi told RNA, noting that security personnel have been deployed to prevent any movement of cattle and their products. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious, acute viral infection that affects cloven-footed mammals, causing small blisters and erosions in the mouth and on the feet and udders. The disease may be spread over great distances by inhalation or ingestion with movements of infected or contaminated animals, products, objects and people. It causes production losses due to abortion and subsequent infertility. Veterinary officials told RNA that although people can be affected by foot-and-mouth through skin wounds, handling of diseased stock, or by consuming infected milk or meat, the human infection is temporary and mild, and not considered a public health hazard. While all cattle markets in the affected areas have been closed, Gafarasi urged that "people should not take advantage of the calamity that befell their colleagues to skyrocket prices."