Foot and Mouth Disease in Herds of Cattle in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria: A Case Report

This case report highlights the occurrence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a grazing reserve at Paikon kore in Gwagwalada Area Council (FCT). Nigeria, and the subsequent interventions efforts. On October 10, 2023, a group of herdsmen from a settlement near the Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve reported that some of their cattle were off feed, exhibited weightbearing lameness, and suffered sudden death. The symptoms were first observed after the migration of nomadic herdsmen from the riverine area of Abaji Area Council, bordering Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa States. Clinical examination of two calves revealed drooling, weight loss, and vesicles in and around the buccal cavity and foot. A field visit was conducted to assess the affected cattle, and samples were collected for laboratory testing, which confirmed FMDV infection. The introduction of new cattle into the reserve and the communal nature of grazing system facilitated the rapid spread of the disease. This case underscores the need for stronger control measures, such as the vaccination of livestock, restriction of animal movement, and enhance veterinary surveillance to prevent FMD outbreak. This report documents the clinical findings, the steps taken to confirm the diagnosis, and the necessary interventions to control the spread of the disease.