URGENT: EPIDEMIC FEARED AS GOATS, CYPRESS TREES DIE IN NW REGION*

DEAD GOATS IN NKAMBE ; APRIL 22 

There are fears of an outbreak of  an ‘epidemic’ in Donga Mantung Division, North West Region of Cameroon, following the suspicious death of animals, goats in particular and the withering of tress mostly cypresses.

Since early March 2016, the price of goats in the villages of Mbot and Kup in Nkambe Subdivision has witnessed a drastic decline further plunging the locals into poverty and fear.

WITHERED CYPRESS

“I can remember that for a goat that could be sold for 15, 000 FCFA, my grandfather sold three for just 20,000 F CFA.  People are just afraid of how they would survive if goats continue to die. 

Their poverty level would increase because they depend on local breeding of animals to send their children to school," a Kumbo resident , Njobee Marcel, said April 25 2016.

Other locals at the Ndu, Nkambe, Lassin and Misaje markets, are quoted as saying they have lost, some 63 goats in a week while some breeders have lost more. Some farmers complain  that the vaccination of the animals is still to serve the purpose intended.

DIEING CYPRESS: NKAMBE APRIL 24 

Witnesses to the strange phenomenon suggest that the death of the animals started in Bui area, Noni Noni Sub Division before gradually moving to other areas. 


“We cannot estimate the number of goats which have so far died. For more than a month now it is fast becoming rampant. The goats you see were being taken to the market Friday (April 22) when they died along the way,” another resident said.

          WITHERING CYPRESS

APRIL 24  2016 

Reports from other areas in the North West region say the withering of cypress trees started almost the same time sheep and especially goats began dieing. Ndop,Kumbo and Nkambe are areas that are said to be most hit.

The green vegetation is fast vanishing. The manager of a local hotel in Nkambe, Vincent Bawe is quoted as saying that when he notices some black spots on the cypress trees around his hotel he resorted to watering them but in vain.  The cypress tress simply brown and dried off. (See Pictures taken on April 24 2016).

It remains unclear how the long resistant cypress trees are withering with concordant reports indicating that the administrative officials are yet to take the matter seriously.

AFFECTED AREAS

We have so far been unable to get the reaction of officials of the Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industry and the one for Forestry and Wildlife and Scientific Research and Innovation. Emails to some officials in the first two Ministries have remained unanswered. 

Locals are raising questions as to what might happen if the strange ‘virus’ or ‘fungi’ hitting the fauna and flora in areas of the North west Region of Cameroon spread or begins affecting residents.

*  Additional reports, photos from Fai Casian, Publisher, The Eye Newspaper.