An estimated 600 000 livestock at Ha Motemekoane, Ha Gideon, Ha Pita and nearby villages in Maseru and Mafeteng districts will be vaccinated against anthrax.

Answering to questions in the National Assembly, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security said the government has allocated over M3 million, which will be used to buy injection dose to carryout the vaccination campaigns.

Mr. Lesole Mokoma said the money will also be used to buy other equipment required to carryout the work.

The Minister said Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has also donated 300 000 doses of injection to be used towards vaccination of the livestock.

Following the outbreak, he said his Ministry also made announcements and notices through the electronic media and conducted education at public gatherings to warn people about the dangers of anthrax to human beings.

He said the emphasis was to discourage people from eating dead livestock for fear of contracting the disease.

Mr. Mokoma said they also met chiefs, local government authorities and farmers to join forces in the fight against the disease as well as to control easy movement of livestock and its products outside the mentioned villages.

Furthermore, he said 'The Ministry also vaccinated all the livestock found at the affected areas and nearby places, de-contaminated places where dead livestock was buried'.

The Minister was responding to questions asked by a Member of Parliament for Qeme Constituency No.42, Mr. Kali Seitlheko, who requested to be highlighted about anthrax epidemic that killed cattle in large numbers at Ha Motemekoane and nearby villages.

He also demanded to know how soon the Minister will take measures to control the epidemic.

Reports of dying livestock cases at Ha Motemekoane, Ha Gideon, Ha Pita and nearby villages were reported at the Livestock department since February 02 this year.

According to reports, a joint research was conducted by the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security as well as Health and Social Welfare after some people were reported dead after eating the dead cattle meat and of other livestock.

Source: LENA 27/05/2008