Namibia reports outbreak of foot and mouth disease

Vehicles wait to be checked to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease at a checkpoint north of Grootfontein in the northern part of Namibia on May 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)

Namibia has been hit by another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Zambezi region in the extreme northeast of the country.

WINDHOEK, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has been hit by another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Zambezi region, which is located in the extreme northeast of the country, agricultural officials said in an e-mailed statement Saturday.

The country's Chief Veterinary Officer Albertina Shilongo said the areas of Kabbe South and North constituencies have been declared FMD-infected areas, while the entire Zambezi region is declared a disease management area (DMA).

Intensive FMD surveillance aimed at establishing the extent of the outbreak is underway, Shilongo said, adding that movement of all cloven-hoofed animals out and through the controlled area has been banned, with immediate effect.

She said all previously issued permits into and out of the controlled area are canceled and recalled except animals originating from other FMD zones destined to export abattoir.

The government has also banned the transportation of potentially infectious commodities out and through controlled areas such as hides, skins, game trophies, grass and plant materials.

She said vaccination of cattle against FMD will commence next week.