June 29, 2006

Botswana reports FMD outbreak in FMD control zone

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has struck the African country of Botswana again, this time in an FMD control zone.

Dr Musa Fanikiso, director of animal health and production in the Ministry of Agriculture, told the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that the outbreak had affected 57 animals, and there were 1,969 susceptible animals in the Kasane district in the Kavimba Extension Area.

The animals were believed to be infected through contact with wild animals.

The control measures that have been taken include quarantine, zoning, vaccination, and disinfection of infected premises.

The infected herds are in an FMD Control Zone, where animals were supposed to have been vaccinated every four months.

The area has been blockaded on either side. Movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products has been restricted to the infected area. The zone is regarded as a high FMD risk area because of the presence of roving herds of wild buffalo.