"Victory Is Certain" - Government Declares War On January Disease - Full Text

The government of Zimbabwe has declared war against theileriosis commonly known as the January Disease (JD) which is caused by Theileria Parva, a parasite that lives in the blood and is spread between cattle via ticks. In a statement seen by Pindula News, the Veterinary Services Department noted that thousands of cattle have been dying of the disease in recent years. Reads the statement dated 24 January 2023:

To: ALL PROVINCIAL VETERINARY DIRECTORS

NATIONAL DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JANUARY DISEASE: 2023

The rain season is always associated with increased tick activity and an upsurge in tick-borne diseases.

January disease (JD) has been a problem resulting in thousands of cattle succumbing to the disease in recent years particularly as from 2017 to date. With the huge support from Treasury, we have been able to bring down JD cases and deaths, year on year, by 47% and 31% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. However, we have seen an upsurge in January diseases cases and deaths from the beginning of 2023. It is against this background that the Ministry is declaring a National War Against January Disease in 2023. This War Against January Disease is starting with immediate effect and will last for a month.

This memo serves to inform all Provinces, Districts and Animal Health Management Centres that the following activities will be done:

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1. Each Veterinary Extension Officer (VEO) shall hold January disease awareness meetings at each dip tank under their inspectorate in the next 2 weeks. At the JD meetings all farmers will be engaged for a minimum of 1 hour discussing JD. In particular, farmers will receive information on the following subjects:

a) January Disease and its epidemiology;

b) Importance of intensive dipping;

c) Importance of constructing dipping infrastructure/equipment including handling facilities, plunge dips, spray races, and knapsacks sprayers

d) Correct spot application of tick-grease;

e) Correct use of pour-on dip chemicals

f) Animal movement controls and quarantines, and

g) Prosecutions for failure to dip cattle or keeping them tick-free

2. A record of all the farmers that would have received the JD awareness under the war against JD campaign must be submitted weekly and without fail to the Head Office through the normal structures.

3. All PVDs shall ensure that they have correct mapping of JD hot spots including a correct cattle census of the affected dip tanks.

4. All affected JD hot spots shall be receiving pour-on dips between January and end of May.

5. All JD hotspots shall receive 2-4 kgs of tick grease per household of the same period

6. All PVDs must map out dip tanks in the JD hotspots that require dip tank rehabilitation and ensure that all of them are functional with immediate effect.

7. VEOs shall enter into all Al and A2 farms to impress and report particularly on the following:

a) Tick infestation on cattle

b) Cattle handling facilities on the farm and

c) Dipping methods in use and related facilities

d) Availability and types of dipping chemicals on the farm

e) Suitability of dipping methods in relation to cattle census, facilities and labour

f) Dip tank calibration g) Dip tank desilting, water replenishment and recharging

h) Encourage A2 farmers to dip their cattle at the nearest communal dip tanks

i) Instruct A2 farmers to construct cattle handling facilities for effective dipping

8. Prosecutions for tick infestation shall be intensified and records of prosecutions shall be submitted to the Head Office through the weekly reports.

9. Sampling for Acaricide Resistance monitoring and Dip wash concentration testing

By copy of this memo, the relevant law enforcement agencies are expected to fully support this National War Against JD.

All the above-mentioned tasks should be implemented after full consultations with Traditional and Community Leaders which include Chiefs, Headmen, Councillors and Village Heads. Please note that this is our first port of call for this important task. A National launch of this War Against JD will be done soon. In line the devolution agenda, Provincial and District launches will be carried out in all provinces. This is an important national program, so cooperation from all livestock industry stakeholders, farmers and law enforcement agencies will be highly appreciated.

Victory against JD is certain as we move forward with our Going4Growth mantra in our Livestock Growth Program.

FOCUS, COMMITMENT AND CONSISTENCY ARE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

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