Animal transport on Trans-Kalahari banned

THE Trans-Kalahari Highway has been closed for vehicular transport of live cloven-hoofed animals because of a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana’s Ghanzi district, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry announced yesterday.

In a statement, the Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry, Dr Frans Joubert, said State veterinarians, livestock importers and exporters through Namibia are requested to take note of this ban and to forward the information to all stakeholders. Joubert said the Directorate of Veterinary Services of Botswana had reported a suspected outbreak of FMD in the Kuke area of the Ghanzi veterinary district.”Five cattle are reported showing foot and oral lesions normally associated with the disease,” Joubert said.Samples have been collected for laboratory testing at the Botswana Vaccine Institute and results are awaited.The statement said a complete movement ban of all cloven-hoofed animals – cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes and pigs – and their meat was instituted with immediate effect throughout Botswana.”All cattle slaughter facilities, including the BMC abattoirs in Lobatse and Francistown, are closed with immediate effect,” said the statement.Joubert said the Directorate of Veterinary Services of Botswana had reported a suspected outbreak of FMD in the Kuke area of the Ghanzi veterinary district.”Five cattle are reported showing foot and oral lesions normally associated with the disease,” Joubert said.Samples have been collected for laboratory testing at the Botswana Vaccine Institute and results are awaited.The statement said a complete movement ban of all cloven-hoofed animals – cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes and pigs – and their meat was instituted with immediate effect throughout Botswana.”All cattle slaughter facilities, including the BMC abattoirs in Lobatse and Francistown, are closed with immediate effect,” said the statement.