23 Apr 2026

Serowe District Veteriary Officer, Dr Jaone Sebina has assured the public that the government is making great strides in the fight against FMD that broke out in Zone 6B and 3C.

He told farmers in a kgotla meeting in Serowe on Wednesday that containment efforts through vaccination were starting to bear-fruits.

“During the third round of the FMD vaccination exercise that took place between April 08 – 16, 2026, veterinary experts realized that there were no visible signs of the disease as the vaccination reinforced herd immunity, reduced the severity of clinical signs and lowered the risk of FMD virus infections,” he said.

He thus remained optimistic that the vaccination exercise in the Southern part of the country (Zone 11) would also yield positive results just like in the northern part (Zone 6B and 3C).

However, Dr Sebina warned that signs of the containment of the disease does not mean that people should be complacent, stating that resting on laurels might give the disease room to spread. 

To this end, Dr Sebina implored farmers to be responsible during this challenging time to ensure that the disease does not spread to non-infested or free areas.

He thus urged farmers to obey all FMD protocols and measures, arguing contraventions of such may reverse or stall efforts to fully combat the disease.

Furthermore, he pleaded with farmers to change their clothes, bathe and soak their feet after contact with cloven-hoofed animals or after visiting cattle posts and ranches as FMD virus can survive on clothes and footwear, making them significant objects for spreading the disease.

Dr Sebina advised that the virus can be carried on fabric after contact with infected livestock, mud or contaminated environments, noting that effective decontamination involves washing clothing with hot water and using appropriate disinfectants.

He said given that the livestock industry was the mainstay of the country’s economy, it was imperative for farmers to fight the scourge head on and collectively.

Highlighting the need for collaborative efforts, Dr Sebina was pleased that Sandveldt Ranchers Association, which comprises over 200 ranches, had pledged a beast per farmer to assist in the fight against the disease, that would include rehabilitation of Lephephe – Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) cordon fence. 

Meanwhile, Serowe District Meat Industry Association through its Chairperson, Mr Reuben Motshebe pledged P65 000 towards the procurement of fencing materials and that the association would be working hand in hand with department of Veterinary Services to patrol cordon fences in Zone C8.

Farmers proposed for the demarcation of zones into small manageable ones, pointing out that the current zones were too big and cumbersome in the event of disease outbreak.

Farmers also proposed that soldiers should patrol cordon fences and were of the view that zones should slaughter cloven-hoofed animals within and that meat should not transcend zones to prevent disease spread. 

Dr Sebina also informed the gathering that the government has availed P97 million for immediate and emergency interventions to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the country. 

He said funds are focused on rapid vaccination and logistics to control the outbreak and protect the national herd from dwindling. ENDS