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Rwanda bans goats and sheep from Burundi over plague

Tuesday April 10 2018
mbuzi

Goats at a watering hole. Rwanda has banned goats and sheep imports from Burundi due to fears of spreading goat plague. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

By LEONCE MUVUNYI

Rwanda has banned goats and sheep and their products from Burundi due to fears of spreading goat plague, which broke out in the country early this year.

Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources announced the ban on Tuesday after Burundi notified the World Organisation for Animal Health of the outbreak of the highly contagious disease.

Kigali outlawed movement and trade of the animals and their products including meat, skins and manure.

"Security organs, immigration officials and local administration at the Burundi border proximity with Rwanda are required to impound and prevent entry on the Rwandan soil anything that can cause the disease," the Ministry said in a statement.

Burundi announced the plague outbreak on January 9, and said it was prevalent in Gitega, Mwaro, Kirundo and Karuzi regions.

Rwanda said that the ban will remain in place until the Burundi is declared free of the disease.

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