Leribe District Veterinary Officer has urged the farmers to vaccinate their animals against Anthrax and Blackleg diseases.

Speaking in an interview with the news e Agency LENA on Thursday, Dr. Owen Kakono said the farmers should go and vaccinate their animals at the veterinary offices in Leribe.  He explained that the vaccine available fights both diseases.

In addition, he said boths diseases show similar symptoms though Anthrax shows through sudden death, gets rotten fast and the animal bleeds through all the holes.  Dr. Kakono indicated that it is a zoonotic disease, as it is easily transferred to humans when eaten and killed.

Referring to trade, he said the reason for the call out is that anthrax affects trading as other countries will not want to exchange animals with Lesotho farmers as well as wool and mohair.

However, he said blackleg does not impose danger to humans and trading. The District Veterinary Officer said the symptoms of blackleg include lameness, sudden onset and high fever resulting in death. Dr. Kakono appealed to farmers staying around Hlotse to Ha Malesaoana to bring their animals for vaccination which runs annually.