Time is of the Essence…#savethechickens

Photo by Kristian Rangel Vallari

As millions of unsuspecting chickens leave their innocent footprints on Ugandan soil, they are unaware that what lies ahead of them is yet another seasonal battle. Their enemy once again is the deadly Newcastle Disease (NCD), a disease that will wipe them out in masses if they are not vaccinated against it. The dry season is approaching and so begins the mass movement of these birds, which is the driving force behind the spread and infection of NCD amongst poultry in rural Uganda. As they travel from household to household and farm to farm, they rub shoulders against their fellow fowls, increasing their risk of infection drastically and leaving them vulnerable to the deadly disease that has been waiting patiently to make yet another dent in the chicken and poultry population in the area.

The beginning of the dry season is marked by holidays where the chickens punch in frequent traveler miles as gifts, merchandise and rare treats at holiday feasts. It is also the time when farmers lay down their tools and focus on the business aspect of their farms and households because most farming comes to a halt with the absence of rain. The mass transit of the birds from place to place allows the disease to travel to new destinations through infected birds and with humans, who carry the disease most often through contact with infected offal. The proximity of the birds in the various modes of transport during transit and also at their new destinations is when the birds are most susceptible to infection. This makes it the most opportune time for Newcastle Disease to strike and become an epidemic.

The pressure is now on Brentec Vaccines as we race against the clock. With the upcoming launch of the KUKUSTAR I-2 Thermostable NCD Vaccine, which was designed to make the vaccine easier to transport to even the most remote areas in Uganda, it is imperative that we get the ball rolling and reach out to these rural farmers. We must achieve this before the movement of the chickens becomes almost identical to holiday travelers through Heathrow Airport, making it impossible to control the spread of the disease. If farmers can act quickly and we are able to give them access to the vaccine, we could save thousands of chickens from the death grip of Newcastle Disease.

You can follow Brentec Vaccines on Facebook (Brentec Vaccines) and Twitter (@BrentecVaccines). Together we can #savethechickens.