Nearly 8 000 Zambezi cattle vaccinated for FMD

At least 7 922 Zambezi cattle have been vaccinated for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at 11 crush pens under a strategic vaccination programme running from 12 to 21 October.The Zambezi outbreak was confirmed on Kalala Island, prompting emergency vaccination, active surveillance and the introduction of additional movement controls.Seven veterinary teams have been deployed to carry out the exercise, the agriculture ministry announced.The strategic programme follows emergency vaccination activities during which 2 942 cattle were vaccinated in Kalala from 7 to 9 October.A further 558 cattle that were missed during the initial vaccination exercise were vaccinated at crush pens on 12 October.In an update issued on 14 October the agriculture ministry said no new clinical cases had been reported since 12 October. However, the ministry cautioned that the latest findings should not be interpreted as confirmation that the outbreak had been eliminated.Resident buffalo populations in protected areas and ongoing FMD outbreaks in neighbouring countries are keeping the Zambezi region at high risk of infection.Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said during the briefing that the region remained vulnerable to the introduction of the highly contagious livestock disease.“The absence of new cases in the Zambezi region does not mean that the transmission has been eliminated,” he said on Wednesday.He stressed that continued vigilance, compliance with animal movement restrictions and adherence to biosecurity measures remained essential to preventing further spread.ContainmentThe ministry has intensified surveillance to establish whether the disease has spread to additional herds.According to Muyunda, six veterinary teams examined 6 222 cattle at 17 crush pens during active surveillance, with no additional lesions detected.As part of efforts to contain the disease, five strategic roadblocks became operational on 14 October at Kongola, Selela, Luhonono, Bukalo and Nakabolelwa.The roadblocks are intended to strengthen controls on the movement of susceptible animals and animal products and prevent unauthorised movements that could contribute to further transmission.Muyunda urged livestock farmers, traders and other stakeholders to comply with restrictions imposed by veterinary officials.He also called on the public to report suspicious movements of animals, meat and meat products outside prescribed areas and in violation of restrictions imposed by veterinary officials.No southern connectionMuyunda, however, hastened to say the FMD outbreaks in Zambezi and ||Kharas are not physically linked, despite being confirmed within weeks of each other.The ||Kharas outbreak was confirmed on 23 September, while the Zambezi outbreak was confirmed on 7 October.

Nearly 8 000 Zambezi cattle vaccinated for FMD

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-16

Please login to leave a comment

Nearly 8 000 Zambezi cattle vaccinated for FMD

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-10-16

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content