Karasburg:All confirmed cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) have been contained within the Karasburg State Veterinary District in the //Kharas Region, according to Acting Agriculture Minister Charles Mubita.

According to Namibia Press Agency , Mubita announced at a State House press briefing that 17 samples tested positive for FMD during routine surveillance between 22 and 25 September. All positive cases originated from the Karasburg State Veterinary District.

Traceability investigations revealed that four cattle had moved from the infected farm in Karasburg District to the Otjozondjupa Region. A total of 30 samples were collected, including those from the four cattle. Additionally, 199 samples were collected during routine surveillance across //Kharas, Khomas, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, and Oshana regions, with all positive results confined to Karasburg.

Mubita emphasized that the ministry has mobilized Veterinary Officials from various offices nationwide, comprising both private and public sectors, to intensify traceability, clinical examination, and blood sample collection. This effort aims to determine the extent of the infection promptly.

The Ministry issued a notification on 23 September under the Animal Health Act of 2011, activating the FMD Contingency Plan. This notification imposed restrictions on the movement of all cloven-hooved animals and their raw products countrywide, causing uncertainty and triggering panic buying of meat and meat products, particularly in Windhoek.

The outcome of the ongoing investigations will guide the Ministry on how, where, and when the current restrictions, imposed on 23 September 2026, can be gradually eased. Meanwhile, 65 cattle on the infected farm and surrounding farms remain under strict monitoring to prevent further spread of the disease.