adminThe Rhodesia Herald,
February 7, 1970
THE Department of Veterinary Services announced yesterday that an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed in Kazungula Ranch on January 28.
The Ranch is the most westerly property in Rhodesia, lying between the angle formed by the Zambezi River and the Botswana border, in the Matetsi area.
Infection is confined to 309 herd of cattle and there is every prospect that the disease will not spread to other ranches in the area.
The outbreak is due to the South African type II virus, which has been active in the Barotseland or western province of Zambia.
All cattle, sheep and goats numbering almost 6 000 in the Matetsi area have been vaccinated as a prophylactic measure.
In addition, other normal control measures have been taken, including the prohibition of all shooting of game – except birds – in an area bounded by the Zambezi in the north, the Victoria Falls-Lobangwe siding railway line in the east, the Veterinary Department game fence between Lobangwe siding and Panda-ma-Tenga in the south and, the border game fence in the west.
The Department also announced that African Swine Fever was confirmed on January 25 as having caused the death of 72 pigs in Mpimbila Tribal Trust Land, on the Botswana border some 50 miles due west of Plumtree.
At present there is every indication that the disease has died out, and will not involve adjacent areas.
A prohibition has been placed on the movement of any pigs in a wide surrounding area, and other normal precautions have been imposed.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Foot and mouth is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects livestock. As the name implies, the disease affects the mouth and feet of the affected animals and symptoms manifest as a fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves.
The disease is estimated to circulate in 77 percent of the global livestock population in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as some parts of South America.
The Zimbabwean Veterinary Department normally imposes restrictions in the movement of livestock as part of efforts to minimise the outbreak or spreading of the disease.
Last year, the Department of Veterinary Services put down 12 herd of cattle at Arda Sanyati after the animals were illegally moved from a foot and mouth disease red zone area.
Online Reporter