Ministry of Agriculture: Namibia FMD Zambezi Region Restrictions Imposed

• Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Zambezi region after 12 cattle samples from Kalala Island tested positive.
• Chief veterinary officer Kenneth Shoombe announced the detection, which led to the activation of a national FMD contingency plan.
• All movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products is suspended across the Zambezi region, and previously issued permits are cancelled.
• Livestock auctions, informal markets, and local slaughtering of cloven-hoofed animals are prohibited, but export abattoirs can continue under specific conditions for quarantined cattle.
• Emergency vaccination has begun in affected areas, and roadblocks are in place to enforce movement restrictions.

However, a crucial exception allows for continued slaughtering at export abattoirs operating under the commodity-based trade system, specifically for cattle already in quarantine, provided they adhere to stringent traceability conditions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has officially confirmed a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak within Namibia's Zambezi region, prompting immediate and extensive control measures. This declaration follows the positive identification of the virus in all twelve cattle samples collected from Kalala Island. Veterinary officials, who initially investigated a suspected outbreak on October 5, discovered twenty cattle exhibiting signs of the disease on Kalala Island, situated in the Kabbe constituency.

Chief veterinary officer Kenneth Shoombe announced these findings in a public notice on Sunday, detailing the rapid confirmation process. Samples were dispatched to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek on October 6, with all twelve returning positive results for FMD by October 7. In response to this critical development, the Ministry has activated its national foot-and-mouth disease contingency plan, initiating intensive surveillance efforts to fully ascertain the outbreak's scope and prevent further dissemination of the highly contagious virus.

In light of the confirmed FMD outbreak in the Zambezi region, the Ministry has imposed stringent restrictions affecting the movement and trade of cloven-hoofed animals and their associated raw products. A comprehensive suspension of all such movements has been enacted across the entire Zambezi region, with all previously issued movement permits now rendered invalid. This broad prohibition impacts a range of livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, aiming to halt the spread of the disease.

Further measures include the immediate suspension of livestock auctions, informal markets, and any other events that involve the gathering of animals. The slaughtering of cloven-hoofed animals at local abattoirs, informal markets, and social events has also been prohibited indefinitely. However, a crucial exception allows for continued slaughtering at export abattoirs operating under the commodity-based trade system, specifically for cattle already in quarantine, provided they adhere to stringent traceability conditions. To enforce these new regulations and prevent unauthorized livestock movement, roadblocks have been established at strategic points throughout the region, complemented by the commencement of emergency vaccination efforts in the affected areas.

This recent FMD confirmation in the Zambezi region follows another significant outbreak reported last month in Namibia's ||Kharas region, which has since affected seventeen farms. Foot-and-mouth disease is recognized as a highly contagious viral illness that impacts a variety of cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, as well as certain wild animal species. The disease manifests through characteristic symptoms like the development of blisters, sores, and ulcers, typically found around the mouth and between the hooves of infected animals.

The Ministry's swift activation of its national contingency plan underscores the serious nature of FMD and the imperative to contain its spread to safeguard Namibia's agricultural sector. The ongoing intensive surveillance and emergency vaccination efforts are critical components of this plan, aiming to mitigate the economic and health impacts of the outbreak. These measures are designed not only to control the immediate situation in the Zambezi region but also to prevent the disease from escalating into a wider national crisis, building on lessons from previous outbreaks.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising clients in the agricultural, livestock, or related logistics sectors in Namibia, particularly the Zambezi region, must be aware of the immediate and extensive restrictions on animal movement, market operations, and slaughtering. This necessitates advising on compliance with the new regulations, potential contractual breaches due to supply chain disruptions, and the specific conditions under which export abattoirs may continue operations.

Source: Original reporting via Namibian news sources