Almost 100 cattle and buffaloes in Phonxay district of Luang Prabang province have died from an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever.
District livestock unit head Ms Somchit Vongpaset told Vientiane Times yesterday that 100 cattle and buffaloes had died by the end of the April and they expect the toll to rise in May.
Most of the livestock deaths occurred in six villages including Chomchieng and Shobhoud but if effective measures aren't put into place the outbreak is expected to spread, she said.
Ms Somchit also said her family had personally lost more than 30 poultry due to the hot weather, with other families in the area facing similar losses.
Livestock and poultry were particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of disease at this time of year, when weather changes occur, she added.
Staff from the livestock and fisheries office will work with village group veterinarians to help farmers treat sick livestock, vaccinate healthy animals to contain the outbreak, and remind people not to eat sick or dead animals.
Maintaining livestock health is a constant challenge in Laos, and more than 200 cattle and buffaloes in the district died earlier in the year due to cold weather and rain, Ms Somchit said.
Buffaloes and cattle in neighbouring Xieng Khuang province meanwhile have been safe from disease outbreaks.
Only a few older cattle in some districts have died due to a lack of feed, but with the wet season on the way there should soon be plenty of grass to sustain livestock herds.
High temperatures have affected many areas of Laos this month but so far have caused more problems in neighbouring Thailand, with farmers in many provinces affected by drought.
T he Meteorology and Hydrology Department predicted that temperatures will remain high for about a week or so, but the weather will become more humid with the bu ild up to the wet season.
The highest temperature recorded so far this year is 39.5 degrees Celsius in Attapeu province, the same as last year's high in Vientiane recorded on April 23.
