ILRI partners Kenyan government takes major step toward eradicating deadly cattle lung disease

KENYA – The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), has launched a concerted effort to eliminate Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which can kill up to 80% of infected herds. 

A planning workshop held in December 2024 in Naivasha brought together key stakeholders to chart a path to eradication.

CBPP, a bacterial disease that attacks the lungs of cattle and buffalo, spreads through airborne droplets from infected animals.

It causes severe respiratory symptoms, fever, lethargy, and eventually death if untreated. The disease is endemic in Kenya, especially in pastoralist regions, and causes recurring economic losses.

“We want to frame our research agenda to address the questions that farmers and other stakeholders have,” said Dr. Musa Mulongo, ILRI senior scientist and the workshop lead.

The meeting, attended by veterinary directors from ten counties, scientists, and representatives from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and other partners, tackled challenges ranging from diagnostics and vaccines to cattle movement and farmer engagement.

Vaccination and treatment hurdles

Kenya uses the T1/44 vaccine to control CBPP, but its efficacy is limited to around 60% and diminishes without proper cold storage.

KEVEVAPI produces the vaccine annually based on county orders, with over six million doses produced in 2023/24. However, field efficacy is undermined by cold chain failures.

“If they are poorly stored with inadequate refrigeration, they become ineffective and cause farmers to lose confidence in them,” said Juliet Masiga, an ILRI research fellow.

Workshop participants discussed the possibility of developing a more heat-tolerant vaccine, but in the meantime, proper handling, training, and reliable distribution systems are essential. Moreover, licensed professionals must be available to administer vaccines correctly.

Though official policy discourages CBPP treatment, farmers and local vets often resort to antibiotics. 

“Treatment is around 80% effective, depending on the antibiotics used,” said Dr. Hezron Wesonga, a retired KALRO scientist. Yet, as Dr. Angela Makumi of ILRI warned, indiscriminate use can fuel antimicrobial resistance (AMR), complicating future disease control efforts.

Diagnostics, data and disease modelling

CBPP diagnosis remains slow and imprecise. Tests can take up to a month, and it is difficult to distinguish between vaccinated, infected, and recovered animals. 

ILRI scientist Elise Schieck expressed optimism that the project would lead to faster, more accurate tests, including those for hidden carriers and vaccine efficacy.

ILRI’s James Akoko emphasised the role of cattle movement in CBPP outbreaks. Animals frequently cross county and even national borders in search of grazing, increasing the spread of disease. 

The project aims to enhance surveillance and develop a digital tracking system to monitor animal movements and vaccination status.

Farmer engagement and the path forward

Participants agreed that success hinges on farmer cooperation. “Farmers need confidence in the cost-benefit ratio of the vaccine,” said Dr. Mulongo. They must also be empowered with clear guidance on vaccination schedules, reporting movement, and recognising symptoms.

Researchers will conduct field trials to model CBPP transmission dynamics under different interventions, from vaccination-only to combinations with treatment. 

A study site will be selected based on livestock density, movement routes, veterinary support, and updated CBPP risk maps.

If successful, the campaign could transform Kenya’s livestock landscape. Eradication would improve food security, animal welfare, and farmer incomes, while boosting trade and curbing antibiotic misuse.

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