Govt launches new initiative to fight deadly cattle disease 

By , July 2, 2025

The Kenyan government, through the Directorate of Veterinary Science (DVS), has partnered with research organisations in a project aimed at controlling contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a deadly cattle disease. 

CBPP kills up to 50-80 per cent of a susceptible cattle herd. 

In a two-year project, the government will team up with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), seeking ways of effectively taming the scourge that continues to plague livelihoods, especially in pastoralist communities. 

The project will also involve farmers, vaccine manufacturers, county governments, among other stakeholders. 

CBPP infects the lungs of cattle and water buffalo, causing damaging lesions that result in difficulty breathing, coughing, fever and lethargy.  

The disease-causing bacteria are emitted in an infected animal’s saliva and mucus, so the disease can rapidly spread throughout a herd by inhaled respiratory droplets. 

In Kenya, the disease is widespread in pastoral areas and intermittent outbreaks are experienced with moderate to high levels of economic impact.  

“We want to frame our research agenda to address the questions that farmers and other stakeholders have,” observed Dr Musa Mulongo, a senior scientist at ILRI, during a consultative workshop in Naivasha where various stakeholders converged. 

County services 

The discussions covered not only questions about vaccines, treatment, diagnostics and field trials, but also attitudes and socioeconomic factors, including cattle movement, and the cost of managing the disease. 

Currently, the disease is managed through vaccination produced through the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), the State corporation that is the local vaccine production unit. 

Each vaccination gives a cow a year-round immunity. For example, in 2023-24, over 6 million CBPP doses were produced. 

According to Julie Masiga, a senior graduate fellow at ILRI, vaccines are produced yearly according to orders from across the counties. Veterinary services in Kenya are a function of the county governments. 

While the vaccine has an effectiveness of 60 per cent, challenges of cold room refrigeration hamper its effectiveness, especially in rural arid Kenya landscape, according to researchers. 

The project is expected to address the issues of vaccine storage, transportation and training of staff for its administration. Governments and farmers will also play an important role in curbing disease outbreaks. 

According to Dr James Akoko, an ILRI scientist, a large proportion of CBPP outbreak cases can be attributed to cattle movements 

Pastoral cattle farming means animals are constantly moved between counties to reach grazing grounds and facilities like markets, watering holes and slaughterhouses, potentially mingling infected and susceptible animals. Movements also happen in response to extreme weather patterns, especially drought. 

According to Dr Akoko, to eradicate the disease, it will be vital to track animal movements to trace vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. This will require a central digital system to keep track of farmers’ movement permits. 

Surveillance efforts also need to consider how cattle are also moved across country borders. 

Accordingly, farmers will need to understand why they should report movements and suspected infections. 

They need confidence in the cost-benefit ratio of the vaccine, to know where and when to obtain it, and understand when to bring their animals back for vaccination. 

Researchers, officials and veterinary workers will need to work with farmer representatives to provide clear advice and information. 

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