November 5, 2014

Pigs with swine fever in Zambia, cattle with FMD in Botswana

Disease outbreaks have reportedly affected pigs and cattle in Zambia and Botswana, both in Southern Africa.

Reports said African swine fever has resurfaced in Zambia while in Botswana cattle have been affected by foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The Zambia National Farmers Union confirmed that three pig farms in Kafue district, Lusaka province, have been affected so far by African swine fever, adding that over 260 pigs have been killed to stop the spread of the disease.

An outbreak of African swine fever last year, also in Lusaka, killed over 3,000 pigs.

Agriculture minister Wylbur Simuusa said the government was ready to combat the latest outbreak, even as veterinary officials appealed to all pig raisers to follow bio-security measures to prevent the disease from spreading to other areas in the district.

Meanwhile, FMD has been confirmed in 30 head of cattle in a large communal herd in northern Botswana.

Authorities traced the cause of the outbreak to "wild species", which passed an unknown serotype of the disease to cattle that had missed their routine vaccination after a major flood cut off access to the herd.

A World Organisation for Animal Health spokesman said investigation of the 30 head of cattle "revealed clinical signs consistent with FMD."