Nigeria's Federal Government Tackles Tsetse Fly Diseases

The Federal Government of Nigeria is intensifying efforts to curb the spread of diseases associated with tsetse flies, particularly in Kogi and Ogun states. This initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, aims to safeguard livestock products and public health.

The strategy includes a combination of surveillance, vector control, and community sensitization, as stated by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director of Information. Ozoemena Uch, Deputy Director of the Coordinating Federal Epidemiological Unit, highlighted the public health risks posed by tsetse flies, which transmit trypanosomiasis affecting both animals and humans.

The initiative targets grazing reserves and livestock settlements in high-risk corridors, with a focus on reducing the impact of livestock diseases such as foot and mouth disease and contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. The program will cover six local government areas in Kogi State, emphasizing the urgency of veterinary support and vaccination access to protect livestock.

This comprehensive approach is part of a broader national strategy to combat tsetse-borne diseases and improve livestock output across the country.