Namibia reviews controls after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Economist
Namibian minister Inge Zaamwani assessed foot-and-mouth disease controls in the Zambezi Region after an outbreak was detected on Kalala Island. Officials reported staff and equipment shortages at checkpoints, while the ministry examines urgent corrective measures, according to Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, inspected health controls introduced in the Zambezi Region after a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on Kalala Island. She visited the Nakabolelwa and Luhonono checkpoints to assess the implementation of restrictions on livestock movements, according to Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Officials reported a shortage of staff and essential equipment needed to operate the checkpoints. The minister said her ministry was addressing these difficulties as a matter of urgency, while the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Namibian police continued vaccination, surveillance and control of animal movements, according to the ministry.
At Kalala, Inge Zaamwani praised the farmer who had quickly reported the suspected infection. She called on farmers, public services, law enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders to coordinate their efforts ahead of the livestock marketing season, in order to limit the spread and protect farmers’ incomes.
The assessment follows the confirmation of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Namibia on 29 September, followed by the detection of 79 new cases on 11 farms on 3 October. It also follows the announcement on 5 October of 200 million Namibian dollars to fight foot-and-mouth disease.
