By Staff Reporter
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has lifted the restrictions of the suspected outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) at Ihaha in the FMD zone, of the Zambezi Region.
In the press release issued by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Mr. Joseph Iita informed the public that the lifting of the restriction in the Zambezi Region which were imposed following a suspect outbreak of foot-and-month disease (FMD) that was detected on 21 August 2014.
“This press release is to inform the public and farming community in the Zambezi Region in particular, that the suspected outbreak of foot-and-month at Ihaha Crush pen has been successfully brought under control and that measures imposed to specifically deal with the outbreak have been lifted with immediate effect.” Mr. Iita said
The crush pen is located 24.8348 degrees east and 17.8232 degrees south in the Kabbe South Constituency, 80 Km southeast of Katima Mulilo.
He revealed that the outbreak was achieved following the booster vaccination of 45 526 cattle within a 40 Km radius of Ihaha Crush pen, intensified inspection of livestock and movement control throughout the Zambezi Region. “No evidence of spread of the disease from the initial focus or occurrence of new cases has been detected.”
The lifting of restriction means that the movement of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sleep, goats and game animal within the region is now permitted under the cover of an official veterinary permit.
The ministry is also mandated to permit the free movement of animals derived products and plant material out of the region under the cover of an official veterinary permit.
Routine surveillance activities will remain in place to ensure early detection of disease. Farmers are encouraged to report disease cases to their nearest veterinary office for investigation.
A routine vaccination campaign of Foot-and-Mouth disease and lung sickness (FMD and CBPP) for the whole of the eastern Zambezi is planned to start on 20 October 2014 to 26 November 2014. This campaign is also going to include cattle that were vaccinated in the 40 Km radius of Ihaha and at the same time to involve cattle inspection checking for signs of FMD and other diseases.
The Ministry thanked all farmers and the public for their cooperation and assistance in controlling FMD outbreak.
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