adminElita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Government has suspended the importation of live cloven hoofed animals (cattle, goats, sheep and pigs) and related products from South Africa with immediate effect.
The suspension follows notification by the South African veterinary authorities of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) on a farm in Molemole District of Limpopo Province on Friday last week.
The suspension of imports from South Africa is a precautionary measure designed to prevent the spread of infection into Zimbabwe through the importation of live animals and animal products.
FMD is a viral disease which affects cloven hoofed animals.
It is transmitted to susceptible animals from wild buffalo which are the reservoir of the virus in Southern Africa.
The disease is characterised by blisters vesicles in the mouth and interdigital space.
These will in turn rapture to form wounds in the mouth and feet respectively, hence the name, ‘foot and mouth disease’.
The presents of sores in the mouth and feet will cause the affected animals to salivate and limp.
The animals become dull and stop eating with high fever.
FMD is a notifiable disease of economic importance as trade is disrupted when the disease occurs.
When it occurs, farmers should report immediately so that the responsible authorities institute control measures.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement’s Department of Veterinary Services director, Dr Josphat Nyika, yesterday advised the public and stakeholders of the suspension of the importation of live cattle, goats, sheep and pigs and their products from South Africa.
He said South Africa is in the process of identifying the virus strain, extent of the outbreak and conducting backward and forward tracing to determine possible origin of the virus, as well as locations to which the disease might have spread.
“In line with provisions of the Animal Health Act, CAP 19:01, the Department of Veterinary Services has suspended the importation of live cloven hoofed animals (cattle, goats, sheep and pigs) and their products from South Africa with immediate effect until a full report on the outbreak has been availed by the South African veterinary authorities,” he said.
“The Department continues to monitor the situation with a view to normalising trade with the Republic of South Africa as soon as the outbreak is controlled.”
Dr Nyika said control measures were expensive and these include erection of FMD fences to separate domestic animals from buffalo, movement controls and vaccinations.
Online Reporter