Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Nokaneng have appealed for swift government action to contain the spread of tick-borne disease (Demartophylosis) in the area.
They made the call during a kgotla meeting addressed by Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama recently.
In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Kebonyetsala Fish said cases of the diseases had been detected in the village.
He said the disease was threatening the only source of living in Nokaneng which was agriculture.
Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson Mr Justice Ngaruka said some farmers had lost cattle as a result of the disease.
Mr Ngaruka said farmers in villages such as Tubu were also affected.
He therefore appealed for government intervention before the disease spread out of control.
A resident, Mr Keoikantse Philemon, the situation was worsened by wild animals which roamed livestock areas spreading ticks that caused the disease.
Responding, principal veterinary officer for the Gumare area Mr Dimbo Dimbo confirmed that there were indeed cases of tick-borne disease in Nokaneng and surrounding areas as well as places like Shorobe.
Mr Dimbo said government was monitoring the situation.
However, he said the Department of Veterinary Services was not able to fight the disease-spreading ticks due to budgetary constraints.
He advised farmers to minimise livestock movement to control spread of the disease.
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