RUNDU – The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has temporarily banned livestock movement of cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and their products from out of the Zambezi Region.
This is due to a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Linyanti Constituency in Zambezi, with the suspected animals coming from the area of the Linyanti river.
Linyanti is located 80 km south-west of Katima Mulilo and according to sources from the ministry of agriculture the outbreak was discovered after the ministry conducted an investigation in the area and nine head of cattle from three kraals containing 470 animals had oral and foot lesions, suggestive of FMD.
Further investigations are still ongoing and in the meantime a temporary but complete ban of livestock movements within and into Zambezi has been imposed with immediate effect.
Movement of cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, goats and other potentially infectious commodities including hides, skins, game trophies, grass and plant materials will therefore remain restricted until further notice.
Speaking to New Era over the telephone, the public relations officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Margaret Kalo said the ministry has established a containment area with a radius of 40 km around the Linyanti. A moratorium on the movement of meat from Katima Mulilo abattoir has also been imposed until further notice.
“A number of roadblocks and other preventative measures are currently being set up at strategic points to ensure compliance with movement restrictions and we therefore urge the community as well as the public to fully cooperate with officials,” Kalo said.
According to her the agriculture ministry has also deployed patrol teams in the area that will ensure no animal leaves the island to surrounding areas, while surveillance and outbreak investigation teams have also been deployed to establish the source and extent of the outbreak. Farmers are requested to present their livestock for inspection.
Kalo said stakeholders in the affected areas will be updated on any developments regarding the outbreak through the local radio station as well as community visits and meetings.
“The restrictions are temporary in nature and are designed to allow the Directorate of Veterinary Services to establish the full extent of the outbreak. There will be a gradual lifting of these restrictions in the shortest possible period,” she said.
She said there are no restrictions in the FMD-free zone which is south of the veterinary cordon fence as well as other areas which comprise the protection zone – like Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene North cordon fence.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry is therefore requesting the usual assistance from the public as well as farmers.
“All necessary measures to contain this outbreak are being mobilized,” Kalo said.
By John Muyamba