Namibia halts livestock movement after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

Namibia has suspended the movement and trade of livestock after foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in an area previously recognised as disease-free, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

Reportedly, the outbreak was detected on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in the southern Karas Region, close to the South African border. The confirmation has triggered an immediate nationwide response, with authorities stopping the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and related products until further notice.

**Namibia’**s red meat industry is an important source of foreign income, while the restrictions come just days before the Windhoek Show Livestock Expo, a major event on the agricultural calendar.

Acting Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister Charles Mubita told Parliament on Wednesday that the case was identified through routine veterinary surveillance. Veterinary officials collected samples from 11 cattle showing symptoms consistent with FMD on 22 September.

The following day, laboratory testing at Namibia’s Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek confirmed that 10 of the 11 samples were positive. Mubita said this confirmed an active outbreak in Namibia’s World Organisation for Animal Health-recognised FMD-free zone.

‘Today I rise with profound sadness and uneasiness to announce the unfortunate detection of foot-and-mouth disease in our FMD-free zone,’

– Charles Mubita, Acting Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Minister

The government has responded by stopping the movement of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and game, as well as products linked to cloven-hoofed animals. The restrictions also cover products including hides, dairy and meat. Imports and exports of cloven-hoofed animals and their products have also been suspended.

A major blow to Namibia’s beef industry

According to Reuters, Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among susceptible livestock. While it is not usually fatal, particularly in adult cattle, it can have a significant impact on livestock productivity and trade. This makes the outbreak a serious economic concern for Namibia.

The country had been recording strong growth in its beef export sector. During the first half of 2026, beef exports increased by 52.7% compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 8.342 million kilograms.

Exports of hides and processed leather also rose sharply, increasing by 92.5% to 924 769kg. Namibia earned N$2.1 billion in foreign exchange from beef exports during 2025, highlighting the importance of access to international markets for the country’s agricultural economy.

The sudden suspension therefore affects much more than the movement of animals. It places pressure on farmers, traders, transporters and other businesses linked to the livestock value chain. Mubita acknowledged the potential consequences, saying the restrictions and suspension of livestock marketing would have serious implications for the economy and people’s livelihoods.

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has backed the country’s veterinary authorities and urged livestock owners to comply with the restrictions. NAU president Thinus Pretorius called on farmers to stop all movement of livestock and livestock products, follow instructions from veterinary and law enforcement officials, report suspected cases and maintain strict biosecurity.

He also urged people not to circulate unverified information about the outbreak.

‘This disease does not respect fences, boundaries or good intentions.’

– NAU president Thinus Pretorius

The NAU has gone further by calling on the Namibian government to declare a state of emergency, arguing that the scale of the threat to livestock, rural communities and the national economy requires the full resources of the state.

The response is being implemented under Namibia’s Animal Health Act of 2011 and Animal Health Regulations of 2018, which provide the Directorate of Veterinary Services with powers to impose restrictions aimed at controlling animal diseases.

Mubita said the ministry would work to contain the outbreak as quickly as possible, while calling on government, farmers, industry and the public to work together. ‘We can only contain this disease if every one of us takes responsibility,’ Pretorius said.

NO MEAT… Grocery stores and butcheries in Windhoek are running out of meat supplies. Residents are flocking to the stores to buy meat in bulk, following the news of a confirmed outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the country’s FMD-free zone, resulting in the suspension pic.twitter.com/x3odGiiQOe

— Eagle FM Namibia (@EagleFMNam) September 24, 2026

The immediate challenge is to contain the outbreak. The longer-term concern will be how quickly Namibia can restore normal livestock marketing and regain confidence in its export markets. Mubita said restoring and normalising livestock marketing remained a national priority.

The outbreak comes as South Africa continues to deal with a significant FMD challenge of its own. Namibia’s southern Karas Region borders South Africa, making disease control particularly important in a region where livestock and agricultural activity cross a wider Southern African landscape.

South Africa has been battling one of its most serious FMD outbreaks in years and has plans to vaccinate 80% of its national cattle herd, estimated at about 14 million animals.

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**Picture: **Victor Ramírez / Pexels

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