The slaughtering and the consumption of beef is expected to resume in Burundi after months of ban on beef, goat and mutton due to the Rift Valley fever that was diagnosed in the country.
The Burundi ministry of Internal Affairs alongside the ministry of livestock and agriculture on Wednesday announced for the resumption of slaughtering beef for consumption by next week a vaccination campaign.
“From Wednesday next week beef will be let for consumption for the public. But we still need the Governors’ commitment to reach that goal. We are looking forward to the implementation of the proposal of quarantining a few cows before slaughtered as soon as you arrive in your counties,” said Martin Ninteretse the Permanent Secretary of Internal Affairs ministry.
During the vaccination campaign of cattle that was held on Wednesday July 27th, 2022 in Bujumbura, the Permanent Secretary of ministry of Internal Affairs declared that they are expecting to start to slaughtering cows by Wednesday August 5th, 2022.
Mr. Ninteretse urged Governors to organize isolation places for cows which are expected to be slaughtered by next weekend limited the movement of livestock from one place to another.
“It is forbidden to slaughter a cow which has not been isolated. In the same context it is forbidden to sell meat from one commune to another. Cows will only be transported from county to county in vehicles when the Governors give a derogation and ensure that those cows are escorted by the national Police,” said the Permanent Secretary.
Serge Nkurunziza a General Director at the ministry of agriculture and livestock said that by Thursday 28th, 100,000 doses of vaccine will be available and will be used in the most affected provinces including Cibitoke, Karusi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Muyinga,Ngozi and Nyanza Lac.
He indicated that each of the above provinces will benefit from 16,000 doses except Nyanza Lac which will benefit from the additional 4,000 doses.
The ministry of agriculture and livestock is expected to receive 700,000 vaccine doses among which 195,000 will arrive next week and 505,000 within a month.
However no specific vaccine has been revealed for the Rift Valley Fever that has ravaged cattle in the country.
According to the Burundian authorities the ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Security injected 4 billion Burundian francs to launch the ongoing vaccination program that kicked off last week.
In Burundi the consumption of products from cows, goat and sheep was prohibited for almost three months now with the exception of Pork.