Vet Department Develops New Vaccine For January Disease

The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) says it has developed a new vaccine for the deadly cattle disease, Theileriosis, also known as the January Disease.

In a statement, DVS revealed that the first batch of 20 460 doses of Theileriosis (BOLVAC) vaccine was produced on 20 August. It said:

DVS has been processing Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis vaccines but had no capacity to produce Theileriosis (BOLVAC).

After receiving financial support from the government and development partners DVS managed to produce the first batch of 20 460 doses of the Theileriosis (BOLVAC) vaccine on August 20, 2022.

This is a major breakthrough because Zimbabwe can now produce vaccines against three out of four major TBD prevalent in Zimbabwe.

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With such capacity, the country is now ready to roll out its Integrated Ticks and Tick-borne Disease Control Strategy.

There are four major tick-borne diseases in Zimbabwe namely Anaplasmosis (Gallsickness), Babesiosis (Redwater), Theileriosis (January Disease) and Heartwater.

In an interview with NewsDay, DVS chief director Josphat Nyika said that the next step is to increase production to hundreds of thousands of doses to cater for local demand.

He added that the 20 000 doses are ready for the market and will be available at various outlets.

According to the First Round Crop and Livestock assessment conducted by the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry for the 2021/22 agricultural season, the four tick-borne diseases contribute 73% of total cattle mortalities with 18 000 cattle deaths recorded in 2021 and 64 086 cattle mortalities in 2020.

The areas worst affected by January Disease include Goromonzi, Chivhu, Bindura, Buhera, Hwedza, Gutu and Mhondoro-Ngezi among the 25 districts recording tick diseases in the country.

More: NewsDay