Mystery Disease Wipes Out Dozens of Cattle in South Sudan’s Melut County

A strange and deadly disease has killed at least 32 cows in South Sudan’s Melut County, Upper Nile State, triggering alarm among local authorities and forcing emergency health measures to stop its potential spread. Most of the animals that died were pregnant cows, and despite vaccination efforts, the disease has not been identified.

The outbreak was first reported on 3 April when 29 cows were discovered dead in a single day. Three more were found dead last Friday, and another was in critical condition. The rapid progression of the illness has raised fears of a wider outbreak as cattle continue to migrate in search of food and water.

Commissioner Chok Zain Arop confirmed that a veterinary team had been sent to the affected area, but their investigation was hampered by a lack of proper equipment and laboratory access. Local veterinary services are limited and unable to test or analyse samples to determine the nature of the disease.

To limit risk to human health, authorities have urged residents to stop consuming meat or milk from local cattle until the outbreak is properly identified and contained. This is the first such unexplained outbreak in recent years in the county. Previous livestock diseases in the region were mostly linked to flooding events.

So far, the disease has not been reported in other villages in the area, but concerns remain due to the seasonal movement of cows. Commissioner Arop has appealed to both national and state-level governments, as well as veterinary aid organisations, to step in urgently with resources and laboratory support.

“We are afraid the disease might spread as the cows move around in search of food,” said Arop. “We need support from veterinary agencies to identify the illness and prevent further losses.”

The commissioner reiterated that swift action is needed before the disease spreads beyond the current outbreak zone, stressing that the lack of tools is hindering their ability to detect and stop the disease in time.