07 Nov 2013

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi has informed Parliament that there are seven serotypes of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Virus.The seven serotypes are O, A, C, SAT 1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia 1.

He said each serotype was immunologically distinct and infection with one serotype that did not confer immunity against the other serotype. He also said of these serotypes, only SAT types do currently exist in Botswana and buffaloes were the main reservoir host of these serotypes.

Mr Molebatsi also indicated that most recent outbreaks in Botswana had been associated with SAT 2 and this serotype appears to be the most problematic one in this country. He was responding to a question asked by Member of Parliament for Okavango Mr Bagaletia Arone who had wanted him to state the number and types of virus which cause Foot and Mouth Disease and the types that is problematic in Botswana.