The Ministry Agriculture and Animal Husbandry has lifted the animal quarantine that was imposed in the districts of Gatsibo, Kayonza and Nyagatare due to foot and mouth disease.Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals including buffalo, pigs, cattle, sheep and goats.Live animals, dairy foods, animal hides, meat and meat products were not allowed to move to and from areas under strict quarantine controls.Dr. Christine Kanyandekwe, the Deputy Director General for animal resources extension in Rwanda Agriculture Board ((RAB), explained that the quarantine was lifted after all cattle were vaccinated to avoid the spread of the highly-infectious disease.She, however, emphasised that the lift was conditional particularly in areas that were worst hit by the diseases.“There is second round vaccination in May that should be respected; we can’t take chances and farmers must adhere to our directives,” she said, addressing lawmakers and local leaders in the Province.Meanwhile, farmers who suffered severe economic losses received the news with relief. Parents told The New Times that they were finding it difficult to send students to schools, adding that the main sources of income for school fees depend on the sales from the cattle.“The quarantine was unfair because the sale of cattle and dairy products is our only source of income. We are facing tremendous financial difficulties because of the ban,” a farmer said.Foot-mouth disease is one of the trans-boundary diseases that are always a threat in the region.
