Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – An outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has been reported in The Gambia’s North Bank Region, killing dozens of goats and raising concerns among livestock farmers, although authorities say the situation is under control.
Sheep and goats (as well as some wild relatives) are susceptible to the highly contagious viral disease known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which causes fever, severe diarrhea, pneumonia, mouth sores, and high mortality.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security confirmed that the outbreak has resulted in the death of 36 goats in the villages of Malick Nana and Kerr Jaine, located in the Upper Niumi district. According to the ministry, this represents a mortality rate of 47 percent among the affected herds.
In a statement issued by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), its Director General, Dr. Abdou Ceesay, said laboratory analysis had confirmed PPR as the cause of the deaths.
Of the 12 samples collected from affected animals, eight tested positive for the viral disease, which is endemic in The Gambia and primarily affects sheep and goats.
Dr. Ceesay noted that the outbreak was largely linked to the refusal of some communities to vaccinate their livestock during routine vaccination campaigns conducted by veterinary authorities. PPR is preventable through vaccination, and gaps in coverage significantly increase the risk of outbreaks.
Veterinary officials reported that affected animals exhibited symptoms including runny noses, lethargy, diarrhea, and frothy discharge from the mouth before death.
In response, the Department of Livestock Services has advised farmers to immediately isolate sick animals, ensure their herds are enrolled in vaccination programs, and improve animal housing and biosecurity measures.
The ministry also urged communities to cooperate fully with veterinary teams to prevent further spread of the disease.
The authorities sought to reassure the public that the outbreak does not pose any risk to human health and said containment measures are already in place. The government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the national livestock herd, describing it as a critical pillar of food security and the rural economy.
