Over 300 sheep have died while 1882 more have been affected by the blue tongue disease emergence in some parts of the country. This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Hon Thabo Mofosi in the statement he made in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Hon Mofosi  said the disease is caused by mosquitos following heavy rainfall earlier this year. He therefore appealed to the stock farmers to report any symptoms they notice on their stock like swelling of their tongues or heads. However, he said his Ministry has intervened by vaccinating the stock but indicated that those already having symptoms should not be vaccinated, saying the vaccination could worsen the affected stock. The Minister said the blue tongue disease affects sheep even though he said it could also

affect goats and cattle. He appealed to the stock farmers to take an initiative by ensuring that their stock has been vaccinated against this deadly disease since the ministry has distributed vaccinations in the parts that have been affected by the disease. ‘The Ministries Extension Officers will assist the farmers with relevant measures to be undertaken against the spread of the disease as well as control steps’ he commented. Hon Mofosi blamed climate change for the emergence of the blue tongue disease but stated that it is up to every stock farmer to ensure that his or her stock is vaccinated against the disease as a preventive measure and to ensure that the stock is immune to the deadly disease.

He promised that through their farmers groups, text messages will be sent as part of a sensitisation campaign about the blue tongue disease. Bluetongue disease is a non-contagious, viral disease that affects both domestic and wild ruminants.

These include primarily sheep, as well as other animals such as cattle, goats, buffalo, antelope, deer, elk, and camels. The disease is caused by the Bluetongue virus (BTV). The insect vector plays a crucial role in transmitting the Bluetongue virus between animals.