A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey on Status of Foot and Mouth Disease in Eastern Kenya

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the farmers and veterinary service providers as well as factors that continue to trigger foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Eastem Kenya. Questionnaires were administered to animal health service providers and livestock fanners. A total of 91 animal health service providers and 106 livestock farmers were interviewed. Livestock farmers ranked diseases as their greatest constraint followed by unavailability of feeds and high cost of inputs. Out of 91 service providers interviewed, 85/91 (93%) reported East Coast Fever as most commonly treated followed by Anaplasmosis 82/91 (90%), Mastitis 74/91 (81%), Pneumonia 73/91 (80%) and Foot and Mouth Disease 31/91 (34%). Eighty six (95%) animal health service providers had handled cases of FMD and 1011106 (95%) of the farmers had encountered FMD in their farms. All the fanners who had an experience with the disease repol1ed that it affected cattle while 111101 (11%), 8/101 (8%) and 1/101 (1%) rep0l1ed that it also affected goats, sheep and pigs respectively. Farmers rep0l1ed that FMD is more severe among the adults of exotic cattle breeds than in young ones. In addition, 43/106 (41%) repOl1ed that the disease outbreaks lead to mortalities.