WHAT THE MEAT BOARD HAS DONE
FMD outbreak in the NCA - the role of the MBN
Namibia along with Botswana and E-Swatini are the only countries in Africa with an OIE recognized FMD free zone. This combined with our CBPP and PPR freedom status, NAMLITS, FANMEAT and National Minimum Standards and Quality Assurance Scheme allow Namibia the luxury to export to any destination globally.
The Northern Communal Area (NCA) is separated from the OIE recognized FMD free zone by the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) that stretch over 1200 km from Wereldend in the Kunene region to the Botswana border along the 20 degree longitude. The NCA is made up of the protection zone that includes the Kunene (north), Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango West and Kavango East regions (excluding the Ndiyona and Mukwe constituencies). The infectious zone consist of the Ndiyona and Mukwe Constituencies in the Kavango East region and the Zambezi region.
Before 2015 the NCA protection zone was for almost 20 years free of any FMD outbreaks however the risk of having an open border with Angola was always there. The first major outbreak occurred in 2015 that devastated formal livestock marketing in the NCA. The Oshakati export abattoir used to export deboned beef to South Africa through a series of interventions that varied from quarantining cattle, deboning of carcasses, removing of limp nodes and maturation of carcasses to naturalize the pH of the beef.
During 2020 another series outbreaks occurred in the NCA. The first outbreak was detected on the 28 September 2020 at Hoha village in the Ndiyona constituency of the Kavango East region. The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) immediately implemented movement restrictions for
the specific area as part of their control mechanism against the spread of FMD. Subsequent outbreaks occurred at Shighuru village in the Kavango East region, Sivara village in the Kavango West region on the 27 October 2020, Ombambi crushpen in the Ohangwena region on the 28 December 2020, Okadhiya crushpen in the Oshana region on the 6 January 2021. The latest outbreak occurred on the 19 January 2021 at Ekuli village in the Kavango West region. These outbreaks are traced to originate in Angola.
The DVS due to a severe shortage of funds, requested the MBN and the livestock industry to assist with the implementation of their FMD control strategies. The MBN availed funds under its emergency budget to assist DVS as follows:
The MBN with the assistance of the LPO mobilised fencing teams consisting mostly
of farmers associations along the 616 km stretch from Oshivelo gate to Namapanne gate near the Botswana border fence. The VCF was repaired in less than 2 months with the MBN and DVS providing the fencing material and producers the labour. The MBN appointed a private contractor to repair 130 km of the VCF that borders the Tsumkwe and Gam constituencies.
The MBN and the LPO will apply the same strategy to the VCF that also forms part of the southern border of the Etosha game park. The VCF will be repaired from Ombika gate in a western direction to Werda gate.
• Appointment of private Veterinarians
The MBN appointed private Veterinarians to assist DVS with surveillances in the NCA. This is a critical function that will assist in identifying FMD symptoms as well as to provide evidence that the disease is not spreading including the verification that no new outbreaks occurs. The results will assist DVS to lift the movement ban after 90 days from the last confirmed outbreak.
• Appointment of Casual labourers.
The MBN appointed a total of 30 Casuals to assist DVS staff with the sanitizing of vehicles and humans at strategic places along the VCF. Casuals are current being deployed to render this critical service at Mururani, Bravo, Oshivelo, Namutoni, King Nehale, Galton, Werda, Ombika / Anderson and Palmwag gates. In addition the MBN procured 12 knapsack sprayers and repair 5 firefighters that are used to spray vehicles. The vehicle baths at Mururani, Bravo, Oshivelo and Werda gates were also repaired and put in operation by the MBN.
• Assist with vaccination campaign
The MBN on the request of DVS paid for the repair and maintenance of 4 trucks and 20 4X4 bakkies. These vehicles are critical in transporting vaccination teams to areas where cattle must be vaccinated. The ideal is that cattle should receive their first and booster vaccines with 30 days. This is of utmost importance to boost their immunity
against FMD.
Lessons learned from the current outbreak is that DVS with the assistance if the livestock industry develop a proactive FMD longterm strategy that includes operation modalities as well as sourcing of funds. In addition FMD preventative measures should also be included in this long-term strategy due to the absence of a physical boundary between Namibia and Angola.
This could be included in the Industry assistance to critical services of DVS that is currently being discussed.