An assessment of the current status of foot-and-mouth disease in Nigeria.
Foot-and-mouth disease has been widespread throughout the country in recent years. The disease occurs mainly in cattle though spillover of infections has been observed in sheep and pigs. Virus types A, SAT 2 and SAT 1 are the usual cause of outbreaks. The present field control method is a 6-monthly vaccination schedulae for animals in government ranches, the few semi-commercial ranches and piggeries as well as for other valuable animals and exotic animals of high production quality. Arrangements are under way to institute a strict and more comprehensive control programme against the disease in view of the envisaged expansion of livestock development projects and improved zoo-sanitary status projected for our 3rd National Livestock Development Plan. A national policy of a barrier and frontier vaccination programme supplemented with strategic vaccinations in vulnerable foci is here recommended and discussed on the basis of a survey on the present status of the disease.