Farmers
say
the
disease,
caused
by
the
parasite Theileria
parva and
spread
by
ticks,
has
persisted
for
months
despite
their
efforts
to
control
it.
Many
discovered
the
outbreak
too
late,
with
several
animals
already
weakened
or
dead
before
treatment
could
be
administered.
“We
are
losing
our
cattle
every
week,
and
it
is
painful
to
watch,”
said
farmer
Bulelani
Kona.
“At
first,
we
thought
it
was
just
an
ordinary
illness,
but
soon
we
realised
it
was
something
much
worse.
By
the
time
we
found
out
it
was
theileriosis,
the
damage
had
already
been
done.
We
had
many
cattle
before,
but
now
most
are
gone.
This
disease
is
still
killing,
and
we
feel
powerless
because
we
don’t
have
enough
medicines
or
dipping
chemicals
to
fight
it.”
Theileriosis
is
a
tick-borne
disease
that
causes
severe
illness
in
cattle
and
can
lead
to
death
if
not
treated
quickly.
Its
symptoms
include
lethargy,
swollen
lymph
nodes,
loss
of
appetite
and,
in
many
cases,
sudden
death.
Another
farmer,
Dalumuzi
Gumede,
said
panic
and
desperation
had
driven
some
villagers
to
sell
their
cattle
at
throwaway
prices.
“We
sold
our
cattle
in
a
hurry
because
we
were
afraid
they
would
all
die,”
he
said.
“Some
people
sold
for
half
the
normal
price,
just
to
avoid
total
loss.
In
some
cases,
the
animals
collapsed
and
died
on
the
trucks
before
reaching
buyers.
Gadade
used
to
be
full
of
cattle,
but
now
you
can
count
the
herds
on
one
hand.”
Residents
say
the
outbreak
has
stripped
many
families
of
their
main
source
of
income,
draught
power
and
food
security.
They
are
now
appealing
for
urgent
support
from
veterinary
authorities.
“We
really
need
more
help
from
veterinary
officers,”
said
Nkosilathi
Ndlovu,
another
local
farmer.
“Theileriosis
has
not
stopped,
it’s
still
here,
and
every
farmer
is
scared
of
losing
the
few
cattle
they
have
left.
We
also
need
awareness
campaigns
so
people
can
recognise
the
disease
early.”
Veterinary
practitioner
Dr
Gwinyai
Zhandire
confirmed
that
theileriosis
remains
a
serious
threat
across
Zimbabwe,
particularly
during
the
rainy
season
when
tick
activity
peaks.
“Theileriosis
or
January
Disease
is
a
fatal
tick-borne
disease
of
cattle,”
Dr
Zhandire
said.
“The
name
comes
from
its
tendency
to
cause
major
outbreaks
in
January
due
to
high
tick
activity.
It
spreads
from
animal
to
animal
through
tick
bites.”
He
said
post-mortem
examinations
often
reveal
internal
bleeding,
swollen
livers
and
spleens,
and
excess
fluid
in
the
lungs,
which
causes
most
cattle
deaths.
Laboratory
tests
also
show
that
theileriosis
is
often
accompanied
by Anaplasmosis (commonly
known
as
Gall
Sickness).
To
prevent
the
disease,
Dr
Zhandire
stressed
the
importance
of
tick
control
through
regular
dipping.
“Prevention
is
based
on
tick
control,”
he
said.
“Farmers
must
use
effective
acaricides
and
apply
them
correctly
and
consistently.
Dipping
should
be
done
at
least
once
a
week,
and
in
outbreak
areas,
every
four
to
five
days.
During
the
rainy
season,
dipping
frequency
should
increase
to
protect
cattle
even
after
they
are
rained
on.”
Dr
Zhandire
added
that
early
treatment
combining
Oxytetracycline
and
Buparvaquone,
along
with
supportive
care,
can
save
infected
animals.
However,
he
warned
that
prevention
is
far
cheaper
than
cure.
“The
cost
of
prevention
through
dipping
is
about
US$2
per
animal
per
year
under
the
government
programme,
compared
to
over
US$20
per
animal
for
treatment.
As
always,
prevention
is
better
than
cure,”
he
said.