Federal Govt Contains Foot, Mouth Disease In Jigawa

The Federal Government has contained an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) reported on a commercial farm in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development swiftly deployed an eight-man rapid response team to the affected area to curb the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease and mitigate its impact on farmers.

The team, led by Dr Adeniyi Adedoyin, director of the project coordinating unit and coordinator of the national programme for the control of FMD, included animal health experts from the Ministry and the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Jos.

They were joined by officers from the Jigawa State Livestock Development Department, headed by the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Mahmoud Danyaro, and representatives of Miyetti Allah and community animal health workers.

Upon arrival, the team visited the affected Mallam Alu Agro-Allied Company Limited farm, where 34 animals were reported to have shown clinical signs of FMD, with six mortalities recorded.

Samples were collected for laboratory analysis to determine the circulating strain of the virus.

Dr Adedoyin said the Ministry, in collaboration with NVRI and the state government, had already commenced ring vaccination of animals within the affected locality to prevent further spread.

“This vaccination campaign underscores our collective commitment to safeguarding the nation’s livestock economy. Our intervention is guided by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which prioritises food security and animal health,” he said.

He urged livestock owners to report suspected cases promptly to state veterinary directors, stressing that early notification was key to effective containment.

The Head of NVRI’s FMD Division, Dr Hussain Ularamu, also emphasised the importance of disease reporting and record-keeping for effective national surveillance.

He encouraged farmers to maintain written and digital health records to support timely response and tailored vaccination efforts.

As part of the intervention, the joint team held a sensitisation session with herders, livestock owners, and community leaders in Birnin Kudu, where they discussed best practices in biosecurity, hygiene, and vaccination scheduling.

The Farm Manager of Mallam Alu Agro-Allied Company, Isa Mohammed Gadama, commended the Ministry’s quick response and noted that the engagement had exposed farmers to better management practices.

Similarly, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Birnin Kudu, Adamu Kankau, expressed appreciation for the intervention and pledged the group’s continued cooperation with veterinary authorities to safeguard animal health.

At the end of the visit, the team secured the commitment of the Jigawa State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Salem Abdurrahman, to implement an annual vaccination plan for FMD and ensure regular disease surveillance reporting.

The Federal Government’s proactive approach is expected to strengthen livestock disease control and support the overall goal of improving animal health and productivity nationwide.