Namibia reports foot-and-mouth disease in second region

Namibia has detected foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Zambezi Region, marking the second region affected by the outbreak after cases were reported in the southern Kharas Region, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform said Sunday.

The disease was detected at Kalala Island in Kabe Constituency, where veterinary officials observed 20 cattle showing clinical signs on October 5.

All 12 samples collected from the animals tested positive for FMD virus on October 7, according to a public notification from the ministry.

The ministry said emergency vaccination had begun in the affected area, alongside intensified surveillance to determine the extent of the outbreak.

Authorities have suspended the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products across the Zambezi Region.

Livestock auctions, animal gatherings and trading activities have also been prohibited.

Slaughtering at local abattoirs and informal markets has been suspended, although approved export facilities may continue operating under strict quarantine and traceability requirements.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services has activated the national FMD contingency plan and established roadblocks to enforce movement restrictions.

Meanwhile, the government is stepping up efforts to contain the outbreak in the southern Karasburg Veterinary District, where Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani recently inspected control measures and met affected farmers.

Construction of a veterinary cordon fence along farms bordering the Orange River is underway and is expected to be completed within four months.

The ministry said work on an additional fence surrounding the containment zone was scheduled to begin during the week of October 12.

Veterinary teams are also preparing to launch a vaccination campaign in the Karasburg outbreak epicenter once implementation schedules are finalized.

Authorities have urged livestock farmers to observe movement restrictions, cooperate with veterinary personnel and immediately report suspected infections to the nearest state veterinary office.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals.