ILRI teams up with Kenyan government and partners to eradicate a severe cattle lung disease

A deadly disease has long plagued the animals and livelihoods of cattle farmers in Kenya.

It is contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a bacterial disease which can kill up to 50-80% of a susceptible cattle herd.

What will it take to eradicate it?

We may know the answer within the next two years, as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is joining forces with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and the Directorate of Veterinary Science to combat this disease.

CBPP infects the lungs of cattle and water buffalo, causing damaging lesions that result in laboured breathing, coughing, fever and lethargy.

The disease-causing bacteria are emitted in an infected animal’s saliva and mucus, so the disease can rapidly spread throughout a herd by inhaled respiratory droplets.

In Kenya, CBPP is widespread in pastoral areas and intermittent outbreaks are experienced with moderate to high levels of economic impact.

The disease is endemic in several African countries, yet in other countries of the continent and around the world it has been successfully eradicated.

Now Kenya aims to follow suit.

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Photo: Cattle belonging to pastoralists in Isiolo County, Kenya (ILRI/Geoffrey Njenga)

Curated by Tezira Lore, Communication Officer, ILRI