LILONGWE FISH FARMERS SENSITIZED ON EPIZOOTIC ULCERATIVE SYNDROME (EUS)

Through funding from the FoodMa Project, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture, conducted a campaign to raise awareness of the Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) disease that is affecting fish in Malawi.

The four-day awareness campaign, which began on October 24 and finished on October 27, 2022, was held in the extension planning areas (EPAs) of Mitundu, Nyanja, Mkwinda, and Mitundu. According to Chris Nyasa from the Department of Fisheries, the sensitization meetings were done due to the recent outbreak of the EUS disease. “These sensitization meetings have come about because of the outbreak of EUS which is a deadly disease affecting fish. So, what we were doing was to sensitize the communities that are within the areas where there is this disease,” he said. During the sensitization campaign, the fish farmers were trained on how they can identify the disease, prevent it as well as handle the affected fish and ponds. The trainings attracted more than 70 fish farmers from the four EPAs. The training, according to Sifo Mofolo, manager of the Bunda Fish Farm, was crucial, particularly in light of efforts to stop the disease's spread in Malawi.

“The exercise was very important as we are trying to sensitize our farmers of the symptoms and signs of the disease and how they can prevent the disease but also how they can report whenever they see the signs and symptoms of EUS. This approach was very crucial since it will assist LUANAR as well as our collaborators, including the government, in restricting the spread of the disease,” Mofolo said.

One of the farmers who was affected by the disease, Senior Group Village Headman Matambo commended the work made by LUANAR and the government to educate them on the disease. “As someone who was affected by this disease, I am really grateful for LUANAR and the government for organizing this training so that we know more about the disease and how we can prevent it in the future,” he said. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome is a severe fungal infection that primarily affects freshwater fish. The disease was first reported in Mchinji district and has since spread to other districts including Lilongwe District.