April 23, 2004

Suspected Foot-and-Mouth Spreads In Zambia

The suspected foot-and-mouth disease, which broke out at Zambia's Northern Province in February, has now spread to five other districts in the province, the official Zambia News Agency said on Thursday.

Northern province senior veterinary officer Obvious Kabinda was quoted as saying that the disease which was first reported in Kawimbe town of Mbala district on February 25, has now spread to Mungwi, Isoka, Nakonde, Mpulungu and Kasama.

He did not say how many animals have contracted the suspected disease.

Kabinda attributed the rapid spread of the disease to his office's failure to carry out sensitization campaigns and vaccinations due to logistic problems.

Apart from collecting samples, which have already been sent to South Africa for testing, his department has been unable to sensitize farmers and vaccinate the animals in the affected area.

He warned that over 67,000 animals in the affected districts were at risk of contracting the disease if nothing urgent is done.

The official said his department has, however, imposed a stock movement ban in the affected districts to curb the spread, adding that farmers are no longer allowed to sell their animals outside their respective districts.