The Namibia government has banned the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals and their products after an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the South African country.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) – or hoof-and-mouth disease (HMD) – is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The virus causes a high fever lasting two to six days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday said the disease was confirmed in Kavango East region.
The Agriculture Ministry Executive Director, Percy Misika, said in a statement that Namibia had detected a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the FMD protection zone.
Misika said: “All animal gatherings such as auctions and cultural shows are suspended except for the purposes of vaccinations while slaughtering of cloven-hoofed animals is also suspended.’’
He added that all movement of animals across the Namibian or Angolan international borders had also been suspended.
According to director, surveillance teams have been sent to the region to establish the extent of the outbreak.
So far, investigations by officials showed that 13 out of 657 cattle tested positive for FMD.