Namibia has confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Zambezi Region, making it the second region affected by the livestock disease, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has announced.
The confirmation follows an earlier outbreak in the southern ||Karas Region, raising concerns about the spread of the highly contagious disease among livestock.
In a public notification, the ministry said, “Veterinary officials detected the disease at Kalala Island in Kabe Constituency, where 20 cattle showed clinical signs on October 5.”
All 12 samples collected from the affected animals subsequently tested positive for the FMD virus on October 7.
Emergency Measures
The ministry said emergency vaccination had commenced in the affected area, alongside intensified surveillance to determine the full extent of the outbreak.
It also announced the suspension of movements of all cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products throughout the Zambezi Region.
Livestock marketing and trade have been halted, including auctions and other events involving animal gatherings. Slaughtering at local abattoirs and informal markets has also been suspended as authorities work to contain the outbreak.
Outbreak Threatens Meat Trade
Namibia first confirmed FMD on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in late September.
Following the initial detection, the authorities notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and introduced restrictions on the movement and export of cloven-hoofed animals and their products.
The outbreak has also affected international trade. The European Union temporarily suspended imports of fresh beef, sheep and goat meat, alongside certain processed meat products, from Namibia over concerns about the disease.
WOAH subsequently suspended Namibia’s foot-and-mouth disease-free status for the affected zone.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. It can cause significant economic losses through reduced livestock productivity and restrictions on domestic and international trade.
