A new Foot and Mouth Disease has been confirmed at various areas in the Zambezi Region.
A media statement issued Friday by Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Dr Albertina Shilongo, said the new virus is called serotype O and is different from South African Territories (SAT) 1 and 2 serotypes which were identified at the beginning of the outbreak detected in the region on 27 May this year.
The affected areas are Kabbe south, Kabbe north, Katima Mulilo rural and Kongola and they have been declared as Infected Areas, while the entire Zambezi Region is declared a Disease Management Area in line with Animal Health Act No. 1 of 2011.
She said this is the first time in the history of Namibia the Foot and Mouth Disease serotype O is being identified, and further investigations to establish its source are ongoing. However, it is suspected that there are illegal cross border movement of cattle between Namibian and Zambian borders, as the Zambian government reported the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease serotype O in 2019 and 2020 to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
“Serotype O virus causes more severe mouth lesions. Apart from cattle, sheep and goats can be severely affected by serotype O, but sheep and goats are less susceptible to the serotype O virus,” said Shilongo.
She added that intensive surveillance aimed at establishing the extent of the outbreak is underway as movement of all cloven-hoofed animals out, in and through the disease management area has been banned.
“Slaughtering of cattle at the Katima Mulilo abattoir is suspended in exception of animals already in the quarantine camp. A number of roadblocks and patrol teams are strategically placed around the disease management area,” stated Shilongo.
She said that slaughtering of cloven-hoofed animals for own consumption and social events like funerals and weddings within a community is allowed. However, the meat or raw product from the slaughtered animal cannot be moved out of such community.
Movement of raw meat and livestock feed is allowed provided that sufficient evidence is produced that such was obtained outside the disease management area.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
