The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a German non-governmental veterinary services organisation have teamed up to save more than 20 000 cattle belonging to South Sudanese smallholder farmers from contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP).

In a statement released on 13 February, USAID said its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is working with Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany (VSFG) on livestock health interventions such as vaccination campaigns and training to improve food security and livelihoods in South Sudan.

“Through the USAID/OFDA-supported Livestock Emergency Response Program, VSFG supports community animal health workers to conduct vaccination campaigns in areas with high risk of livestock diseases, like Jonglei State’s Twic East County. In September 2017, VSFG teams vaccinated 20 000 livestock throughout Twic East and isolated and treated more than 1 000 livestock affected the CBPP outbreak then,” the organisation reported.

In addition, VSFG has educated cattle owners on the importance of proper quarantine procedures and safe herding practice,s which are critical to preventing the spread of livestock diseases. During post-vaccination follow-up meetings, farmers reported a reduction in the incidence of disease, and a corresponding decline in livestock mortality due to CBPP.

Also read: FAO seeks funds for urgent livestock vaccination in South Sudan