No new FMD cases outside Kalala Island

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the Zambezi region remains confined to Kalala Island.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform announced this on Wednesday during an update on FMD.

Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says 53 913 cattle have been vaccinated at 37 crush pens within a 30 kilometre radius of the affected area and surrounding communities.

The Zambezi region detected FMD on 6 October.

Muyunda says veterinary officials continue to monitor cattle in the region to detect any new infections.

“No new FMD cases have been reported outside the designated disease management area. The outbreak remains confined to Kalala Island in the Zambezi region, with active surveillance ongoing to monitor the disease situation and detect any potential spread,” he says.

Muyunda adds that veterinary officials and the police continue to operate roadblocks at Luhonono and Nakabolelwa to enforce livestock movement restrictions.

He sayslivestock movement remains permitted in areas north of the veterinary cordon fence, except in the Zambezi region.

The restrictions aim to prevent infected animals and animal products from spreading the disease to other areas.

He urges farmers to follow veterinary instructions and report suspected infections or unauthorised movements of livestock, meat and meat products to the nearest state veterinary office.

He also encourages farmers and communities to attend information sessions on disease prevention and control.