The Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has raised the alarm over the outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR, a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats, urging livestock owners to immediately vaccinate their animals to prevent further spread.
The Director of Veterinary Services of the ministry, Dr. Adebayo Ehinmowo, disclosed that cases of the disease have already been reported in parts of the state, warning that farmers should not wait for the government’s vaccination campaign before taking preventive action.
Ehinmowo, in an interview with THE HOPE, said the PPR, commonly referred to as “goat plague,” is a seasonal disease that often emerges at the onset of the rainy season and can cause significant losses among sheep and goat populations.
He said, “The outbreak is already in town. Farmers should not wait for government vaccination. The disease is viral and cannot be treated; it can only be prevented through vaccination.”
He explained that infected animals typically show symptoms such as mucus discharge from the nose and eyes, diarrhoea, weakness and loss of productivity. Young animals are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
“You will see mucus coming from the nose and eyes. Some of the animals will be stooling and suffering from diarrhoea. These symptoms affect their growth and overall health,” he added.
The veterinary expert clarified that the disease affects only small ruminants, namely sheep and goats and does not pose a threat to cattle.
To contain the outbreak, the Federal Government has supplied vaccines to Ondo State, while arrangements are being made for a statewide vaccination exercise.Ondo government updates
However, Ehinmowo said the programme is awaiting logistical support from the state government before deployment to communities.
He stressed, “The vaccines are already available and safely stored in our cold storage facility. They remain effective and have not expired. We are only waiting for the necessary logistics to commence mass vaccination.”
He noted that private veterinary practitioners and veterinary outlets currently have vaccines available for purchase, urging farmers who can afford them to take immediate action rather than risk losing their animals.
“Vaccination is better than cure. In this case, there is no cure. Prevention is the only solution,” be stressed.
The ministry is targeting more than 100,000 sheep and goats across Ondo State in the planned vaccination exercise.
Ehinmowo said the actual population could be much higher due to the absence of recent livestock census data.
He called on livestock owners to cooperate fully with veterinary officials once the exercise begins, noting that achieving widespread vaccination coverage is critical to stopping the spread of the disease.
He added, “If even one infected animal is left unprotected, it can expose others to infection. Farmers must willingly bring out their animals for vaccination when the exercise starts.”
The ministry also plans to intensify community sensitisation campaigns across the state’s rural communities, where most sheep and goats are raised, to educate farmers on the dangers of PPR and the importance of vaccination.
Agricultural stakeholders have expressed concern that a widespread outbreak could affect livestock production and farmers’ incomes if urgent preventive measures are not taken.