A first round of vaccinations was initiated immediately in an effort to create a containment zone, beyond which the virus would not spread. Some 1.3 million cattle in Kenya and 2 million in Tanzania were immunized before heavy rains in April and May brought the campaign to a halt. A second round of vaccinations started in June and will run until mid-August. In Tanzania, some 3.5 million doses of vaccine have been provided to cover cattle in the affected area and those in surrounding areas considered to be at risk. We believe the disease is under control, but we will not know for sure until September or October.
Intensive surveillance is now necessary to detect further outbreaks.
A Surveillance Training Programme for local veterinary and laboratory staff will boost the effectiveness of routine patrols and emergency preparedness. Surveillance will have to continue well into 1998, with local veterinary staff patrolling villages on a monthly basis and responding immediately to reports from the field of suspected cases of rinderpest.