No quick fix for foot-and-mouth disease

Namibia’s livestock industry is on high alert as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spreads across southern Africa, with recent cases reported in South Africa’s Northern Cape province and Botswana.

Officials warn farmers that there is no quick solution to protect a sector valued at N$15 billion.

Minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi told parliament on Tuesday that Namibia remains officially recognised as FMD-free by the World Organisation for Animal Health, but the risk to the country is rising.

“As of Sunday, 8 February, a new case was confirmed at Kuruman in the Northern Cape, about 400 kilometres from the Namibian border. The risk to Namibia has increased significantly,” she said.

Botswana has also reported an outbreak within its FMD-free zone 6B.

Zaamwani-Kamwi said the outbreaks are a threat to Namibia.

“This development substantially heightens the regional risk profile and presents an immediate and significant threat to Namibia,” she said.

She warned that any introduction of the virus would have “severe economic ramifications, including the immediate imposition of trade restrictions and long-term disruptions to international markets”.

The Cabinet has approved N$57.5 million for prevention and preparedness, but Zaamwani-Kamwi said preliminary estimates indicate that about N$1.5 billion more will be required to strengthen measures to protect the livestock sector and maintain market access.

She said the ministry has deployed additional veterinary personnel to border posts, intensified vehicle inspections and will increase surveillance at border farms from once a year to once a month.

Plans are also under way to establish a national FMD vaccine storage facility.

The Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO NC) has confirmed receiving official notification of a suspected FMD case in the Kuruman district on, 7 February.

An animal health technician visited the affected farm the same afternoon, and samples were transported to Kimberley for testing.

“Strong emphasis is placed on strict control of animal movements. Members are urgently requested to strictly comply with all prescribed protocols, avoid unnecessary movement of animals and apply biosecurity measures on farms without exception,” says RPO NC operations officer Yolande Botha.

Some farmers have started looking at alternative products, including so-called ‘nano-silver’ remedies marketed as internal solutions against the virus.

The Namibia Agricultural Union last week said the continued occurrence of FMD in southern Africa is a cause for major concern.

The union urged for the situation to be handled calmly and responsibly.

“All stakeholders are encouraged to remain clear-headed, avoid panic, rumours or misinformation and view developments within their respective context,” said the union.

It added that an extensive section of the Namibia-Botswana border has been electrified by the directorate of veterinary services, with support from the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, to prevent animal movement and contact between the countries.

Anja Boshoff-de Witt of the livestock products Board says strict precautionary measures are already in place, protecting Namibia.

She urges producers to safeguard the country’s disease-free status.

As a measure to prevent the disease from entering Namibia, the government in September last year imposed a ban on meat and dairy products from South Africa.

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