Kenya unveils vaccine to curb cattle-killer disease

Kenya has launched the East Coast Fever (ECF) vaccine to control a deadly disease that causes the death of 1.1mn cattle yearly across eastern, central and southern Africa

Mohammed Abdi Kuti, Kenya's minister for livestock, revealed the new vaccine during the launch at Katuke Agricultural Development Cooperation ADC in the Trans-Nzoia district. 

"The effective control of animal diseases, including the East Coast Fever, is a key to the realisation of Kenya's Vision 2030 objectives that mark a broadening of the agenda in agricultural production to includes marketing, value addition and agri-business to improve the livelihood of Kenyans and create wealth," said the minister. 

The vaccine was formulated through a collaboration project that included the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, the International Livestock Research Institute, the UN's Food Agricultural Organisation, the Global Alliance for Livestock and Veterinary Medicine and the Kenyan government.

Abdi Kuti said that the launch of the vaccine would prove to be "a great achievement" in controlling livestock diseases in Africa.