Govt warns against lumpy skin disease in Oshikoto cattle

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Oshikoto region has reported that two head of cattle are affected by lumpy skin disease on a daily basis, with 561 currently critically affected.

The directorate’s head, Junior Paulus, says the disease was first detected on 18 November 2024 in the Nehale Lyampingana constituency.

Paulus says 46 deaths were recorded in January 2025 alone.

“The affected constituencies are Nehale Lyampingana, Okankolo, Eengodi, Olukonda, Oniipa, Onyaanya, Onayena, Omuthiya and Omuntele,” he says.

Paulus says 12 543 cattle have been vaccinated and 509 farmers in the region have been educated.

“We have managed to treat more than 500 infected cattle,” he says.

The DVS head says the directorate has distributed medicine to more than 120 farmers to control biting insects that spread the disease.

It is also busy vaccinating animals against lung sickness.

Mangetti Farmers’ Association chairperson Bro-Matthew Shinguadja says the association is currently in the process of vaccinating cattle.

“The disease is countrywide, so we are waiting for the government to intervene,” he says.

He says the association has encouraged its farmers to buy the vaccine and vaccinate their cattle.

“Farmers should take the official information rather than fake information in regard to the vaccination of the animals,” he says.

Shinguadja says farmers can get expert information from private animal doctors and Agra.