Online Reporter
Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
The Government has intensified surveillance along Zimbabwe’s borders following a surge in Foot-and-Mouth Disease cases in South Africa and Botswana, in a move aimed at protecting the country’s growing national herd and safeguarding livestock-based livelihoods.
The disease has now been reported in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, prompting veterinary authorities to declare a state of heightened alert and roll out stringent preventive measures.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
While the disease is often mild in small livestock, it can be devastating in cattle, causing severe production losses and, in some cases, death. In Southern Africa, wild buffaloes act as the main reservoir of the virus, enabling transmission to domestic animals.
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) chief director Dr Pious Makaya said the worsening situation in the region had necessitated increased vigilance at Zimbabwe’s borders.
“The disease has prompted us to ramp up surveillance, particularly along the South African and Botswana borders,” said Dr Makaya.
“We have also strengthened measures to disrupt illegal cattle movement and trade, which significantly increase the risk of disease transmission.”
He said Zimbabwe had adequate stocks of FMD vaccines and was fully prepared to respond swiftly should an outbreak occur.
“The Directorate of Veterinary Services remains on high alert and has intensified FMD surveillance, strengthened movement controls and scaled up awareness campaigns.
Zimbabwe has also banned all imports of live cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South African provinces affected by the disease,” he said.
The economic consequences of an FMD outbreak can be severe.
The disease often triggers trade embargoes on beef and related products, affecting not only livestock exports but also non-livestock goods from affected regions.
To minimise this risk, the DVS has activated a high-alert surveillance system and continues to implement routine preventive vaccination programmes. Farmers have also been warned that transporting tick-infested cattle is a prosecutable offence.
“Farmers must dip their cattle before any movement to avoid the long arm of the law,” said Dr Makaya.
FMD is characterised by painful blisters and sores in the mouth and between the hooves. These lesions can burst, causing wounds that lead to loss of appetite, excessive salivation, lameness, fever and general dullness.
In severe cases, especially among calves, the disease can result in heart complications and death.
