Positive Tests Leave 21,000 Cattle at Risk from FMD
ZIMBABWE – Foot and Mouth disease has been confirmed in over 1,000 cattle across the southern half of Zimbabwe.
27 August 2015
1 minute read
The most recent report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) shows 21,696 cattle are at risk from new outbreaks confirmed in August.
The worst recent case has seen 320 cattle confirmed with the disease near the village of Chengwena, Mvuma, in the Midlands, leaving over 1700 animals “susceptible”.
Weekly inspections are taking place at all properties within a 20 kilometre radius of outbreaks.
The chain of outbreaks dates back to April 2014, with OIE officials blaming new outbreaks on “local spread” from infected communal dip tanks to adjacent ones as animals mix within infected zones.
Cattle systems in these regions are characterised by animals of varying age groups all sharing the same grazing and watering points.
A spokesperson added: “Outbreaks in Chiredzi district are occurring in the routine vaccination areas adjacent to national parks with resident wild buffalo where cattle and wildlife share grazing and watering points as routine FMD vaccinations in these areas are long overdue.
“Available vaccine was not adequate to cover all affected areas and has been directed to a 10 km cordon area that has been created to prevent further spread of the outbreaks to the north and west of the country.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
