27 Jan 2015

The recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in some areas of the Okavango Sub-district is under control, Dr Obakeng Kemolatlhe of department of veterinary services has said. 

He said the recent resurgence of FMD cases was recorded in June 2014 at sub-zone 2a in Mohembo East while the outbreak at Chaa crush at sub-zone 2c in Tubu was recorded in October 2014. The cases recorded in Tubu were said to be few, an indication that the disease was under control, he added.

Dr Kemolatlhe said in an interview that the department was doing its best to control and contain FMD in the affected areas. He said since October until to date, no new cases had been recorded, an indication they were winning the battle through vaccination and movement control. 

Investigations were on going to check in which areas they could release movement noting that they would monitor the situation until zone 2c normalises.  Dr Kemolatlhe appealed to farmers to join hands with his department and exercise 100 per cent vaccinations noting that they should ensure that all cattle were vaccinated.

He revealed that vaccination remained the only best option to control and contain the disease hence the need to do good vaccination coverage in the district. He added that the department had adopted control measures mainly in the form of vaccination, movement control, public awareness and fence maintenance.

He also observed that killing of cattle could be another option but indicated that at the moment, the situation does not allow killing as an option looking at the cost benefit analysis. 

Dr Kemolatlhe noted that it was advisable to look for alternative methods of dealing with FMD apart from killing as Botswana is a member of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and had a mandate to fight animal diseases.

He said Ngamiland district has a high population of cattle as compared to other districts noting that Zone 2d has 65 per cent of the population followed by zone 2c which has between 90 000 to 100 000 cattle.

However, Dr Kemolatlhe indicated that despite efforts made to contain the disease, there were still some challenges such as water bodies and farmers who leave their cattle to wonder freely in search of pasture and water. 

He said poor vaccination coverage was recorded in zone 2d around Lake Ngami catchment and that posed a threat of another FMD resurgence. He also noted that efforts were being made to maintain buffalo fence but indicated that shortage of transport frustrates their efforts.

He said they had engaged farmers to assist in the maintenance of the fence and appealed to the communities to trace their roots and practice basic husbandry. 

Dr Kemolatlhe observed that it was important for farmers to manage and look after their livestock to ensure they did not cross the buffalo fence and graze into stock free zones which were inhabited by large herds of buffaloes. 

He also decried vandalism of the buffalo fence noting that there was evidence in some areas that people cut the fence deliberately to frustrate government efforts. ENDS