Government has set aside P97 million to curb Foot and Mouth Disease in the North East District following the confirmation of the existence of the disease in the border village of Jackalas No.1.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) targeted to vaccinate 700 cattle in two days. The officials are also carrying out surveillance of the disease across Botswana.
According to Veterinary Services Principal Technical Officer, Milian James the mass vaccination to contain FMD commenced on Tuesday and surveillance for clinical signs of the disease will be carried on the vaccinated livestock. Thereafter booster jabs of the vaccine will be administered on the livestock in 14 days with another one scheduled towards the end of the year.
While Jackalas No.1 which falls under the Zone 6b crush has been declared a red zone, suspected cases of FMD have also been reported in Kgari and Moroka crushes in the same district.
Meanwhile, government has banned the transportation, movement and slaughter of cloven-hoofed animals whether for personal consumption or at social gatherings such as weddings, funerals and megoga. Chobe and Ngamiland districts have however been exempted from the restrictions.
These additional measures are meant to curb the spread of FMD across the country.
Other measures being enforced is quarantining livestock and launching awareness campaigns targeted at cattle farmers and communities in the affected Zones.
North East District is home to a significant size of Botswana’s livestock population. The district shares borders with neighboring Zimbabwe’s Matebeleland region which has been plagued with FMD outbreaks in recent years.
In the Southern part of Botswana, the department has killed and destroyed 29 cattle after they were found to have crossed into South Africa and back to Botswana. Good Hope Acting Principal Veterinary officer Motlamedi Keboitsi said the cattle in question had crossed into South between January 24 and 30.
Keboitsi said, “since surveillance of the disease started the department has noticed less livestock grazing along the cordon fences and more animals being led to designated drinking water holes. Farmers are more cautious now and taking care of their animals.”
South Africa has been battling with FMD since last year and concerns of cross border transmission are highly suspected due to share grazing belts along the borders and cordon corridor fences.
