Namibia suffering from severe cases of foot and mouth disease FMD #namibia

the Namibia's 50-year old dream of declaring itself free from
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) seems to be shattered for now, as the
outbreak in May this year is proving much tougher to contain than
previously anticipated.
While Namibia is winning the battle against the disease in the Northern
Communal Areas, where it erupted on May 11 at two locations in
Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, the battle rages on after another
suspected outbreak at Malundu and Shaile in Linyanti constituency, 60
km west of Katima Mulilo last week.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and
Forestry, Abraham Nehemia, says 39 cattle from eight kraals were
showing signs of the disease and the outbreak was discovered after a
farmer reported suspected FMD in his kraal at Malundu.
"A full investigation has since been launched and appropriate samples
have been collected for laboratory confirmation," Nehemia says.
A temporary but complete ban of all susceptible livestock movements
within and into Zambezi has been imposed with immediate effect. A
containment zone has been established with a radius of 30 km around
Malundu and Shaile and roadblocks have been set up.
Deputy chief-director of the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Dr John
Shoopala says the work of DVS is made more difficult by the fact that
wild buffalo roam freely in Botswana close to the area where the
suspected latest outbreak took place.
"Botswana has a constant battle with FMD, because of their free-
roaming buffalo and these animals can easily cross over into Namibia.
This compounds our problem as buffalo are the main carriers of FMD
along the Chobe River," he says.
Shoopala admits this year's outbreaks will have a serious effect on
Namibia's efforts of declaring the country FMD free. DVS and all role
players in the meat industry were until recently optimistic that Namibia
could gain that status soon.
But, this year's outbreaks translate into a huge setback, as it could
take up to two years for the Animal Health Organisation to recognize
Namibia's FMD free status.
"We have the disease under control in the NCAs, but these newly
reported cases are of great concern as it halts all our hard work of
almost 50 years," lamented Shoopala.
Chief veterinary officer of DVS, Dr Milton Maseke praised the Namibian
livestock industry, all role players and more than 850 government
officials and 450 casual workers for halting the worst outbreak of FMD
in its tracks in a relative short time in the NCAs.
"DVS has almost two-thirds of its total workforce of 1,500 people in
the field fighting day and night to eradicate the disease and repair the
Veterinary Corridor Fence. They work under extreme conditions and
sometimes in isolation," he told New Era.
"Therefore, we appreciate the donation of packets of 500 each of
various food supplements from Meatco, Namib Mills, Bokomo, Agra
and Windhoek Livestock Auctioneers to secure an everyday meal for
these gallant troops in the field. These workers will receive regular
food supplements for as long as they have to combat the disease," he
said.
Government reacted swiftly after the first outbreaks, with Cabinet
approving N$208 million to eradicate the disease once and for all.
Some N$52 million of this amount will be spent over the next two
financial years to erect the fence.
All livestock movement has been stopped and the vaccination of some
1.4 million cattle is going ahead full steam.
Thirty-eight temporary roadblocks to monitor and enforce animal and
commodity movement control and decontamination of vehicles and
footwear are in operation throughout the NCAs and at permanent
veterinary checkpoints along the Veterinary Corridor Fence.
Government will spend about N$119 million on the vaccination of
some 1.4 million head of cattle against FMD. The vaccination
campaign is being conducted by 48 teams and the first round is
expected to be completed by the end of June.