Foot and Mouth Disease found in Namibian cattle

THE NAMIBIAN Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has announced that a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak was detected at the Onamulunga village crush-pen in the Oshikoto Region, last week.

In a statement, the ministry said the outbreak was confirmed on December 29 after two cattle out of five in a herd displayed FMD clinical signs during physical examinations by veterinary officials.

In line with the Animal Health Act, the Olukonda Constituency, where the crush pen is situated, has been declared an infected area.

The statement said the Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions had been declared as the disease management areas (DMAs) where FMD control measures have been instituted.

These include a complete restriction on the movement of all live cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and wild animals within and out of the DMAs.

The movement of other potentially infectious commodities such as hides, skins, game trophies, grass and plant material out of DMAs has also been restricted until further notice.

In-transit movement of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products through the five regions is also prohibited.

“All previously issued permits into, within and out of the disease management areas are hereby cancelled and recalled,” the statement read.

To enforce movement restriction, roadblocks have been set up at strategic points and patrol teams have been deployed within DMAs. Furthermore, FMD surveillance aimed at establishing the extent of the outbreak in all five regions has been intensified.

“Farmers are strongly urged to bring their animals to the designated crush-pens for disease surveillance as per announcement by officials," the ministry said.

The tracing of all livestock movement from and into declared infected areas will be done using the Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS).

However, raw meat and other animal products from the FMD-free areas and from the export abattoir in the Zambezi Region into the FMD protection zone is permitted.

The ministry also said the FMD outbreaks detected earlier in Kavango East and Kavango West were ongoing and all control measures instituted were still applicable.

"Farmers and the general public are hereby asked for their usual support in dealing with FMD outbreaks.

“All suspected cases should be reported to the nearest state veterinary offices," the statement said.