RUNDU – The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), under the ministry of agriculture, has warned farmers and the general public about the confirmed foot-and-mouth disease outbreak at Kasenu village in the Kasika area of Zambezi region.

The outbreak was confirmed on 3 June.

“In line with the Animal Health Act, Act 1 of 2011, the area within the radius of 30km of Kasenu village has now been declared as a controlled area,” said chief veterinary officer Dr Alberthina Shilongo in a statement. 

Shilongo said the ministry has immediately banned the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals out and through (in-transit) the controlled area to minimise the spread of this deadly virus.

“The agriculture ministry has set control measures in place, active surveillance and vaccination of cattle in and out of the control area, and the rest of the region has commenced,” she said. 

With the ban, it now means all previously issued permits into and out of the controlled area are cancelled and recalled. 

Cloven-hoofed animals include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and some wild animals and their products. The ministry is enforcing a movement restriction of potentially infectious commodities, such as hides, skins, game trophies, grass and plant materials, out and through the controlled area. 

“A number of roadblocks and patrol teams are strategically placed around the controlled area and members of the public are urged to cooperate with veterinary and police officials fully. Re-vaccination of all cattle in the controlled area with FMD vaccine has commenced and all farmers are strongly urged to take their cattle for vaccination to the designated crush pens,” Shilongo noted.

- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na