January 3, 2007

Kenya livestock exports unaffected by disease outbreak
 

Kenya plans to continue exporting beef products to Mauritius and other Middle East countries despite an outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever (RVF).

Rift Valley Fever is passed to humans from livestock by mosquito bites or by handling contaminated animal fluids.

Livestock minister Joseph Munyao said there was no need to panic as produce was being sourced from cleared grounds and was therefore, safe.

The news came shortly after Kenya banned the transport and slaughter of livestock in Garissa, a north-eastern province due to the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever.

Munyao also assured Kenyans that there were enough drugs to deal with the disease.

The lucrative export of livestock from Kenya has therefore not been affected.

The outbreak followed flooding, which also killed some animals and made transport to markets difficult. Heavy rains that began in mid-October continued through early December across the country with devastating consequences.

The threat of an outbreak of water-borne diseases has risen as sanitary conditions deteriorate.

Munyao said Kenya would double its livestock exports that stand at 20,000 cattle and 10,000 sheep and goats next year. Exports would further be stepped up with the opening of Kenya Meat Commission plant near Mombasa.

Some of the government measures undertaken to contain the situation include closing down slaughterhouses and livestock markets in the affected areas.