FMD outbreak remains confined to Karasburg district

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Namibia remains confined to the Karasburg Veterinary District in the ǁKharas Region, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform said in an update issued on 17 October.

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kenneth K. Shoombe said 131 animals had tested positive for FMD as of 15 October, across 18 farms. The outbreak has been confirmed as serotype Southern African Territories (SAT) 1. Shoombe said control measures remained in force under the Animal Health Act, 2011. These include intensified disease surveillance, movement controls and tracing livestock movements from the infected area before the outbreak was detected.

Livestock and animal product movement - The movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products remains permitted in areas north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), except in the Zambezi Region.

The movement of eligible animal products and animal feed from areas north of the VCF to areas south of the fence is also permitted, subject to existing veterinary protocols, Shoombe said.

Animal products and feed may be transported into and within the ǁKharas Region from registered facilities outside the region, including abattoirs, butcheries and cold stores, provided the required documentation is available. The facilities must be registered with the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, or the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia.

However, the movement of raw meat and animal products from butcheries, abattoirs, slaughterhouses, informal slaughter slabs and cold stores within the ǁKharas Region remains restricted.

Meat purchased from retailers in the region may be transported for personal consumption, provided proof of purchase is presented. The movement of registered, processed animal feed into and within the region is also permitted with proof of purchase.

Raw products from cloven-hoofed animals may be imported or transported through Namibia in transit if accompanied by a valid veterinary import permit and a certified health certificate, Shoombe said.

Conditions for moving livestock to slaughter - Animals kept south of the VCF, excluding those in the ǁKharas Region, may be moved directly to registered abattoirs for slaughter if they are held in feedlots or quarantine facilities registered on the Namibia Livestock Traceability System (NamLITS). The movement is subject to a livestock movement permit and the following conditions:

• Biosecurity measures must be applied at the holding facilities.
• Retrospective tracing through NamLITS must show that no new animals have been introduced during the previous 30 days.
• Animals must undergo clinical examinations and sampling, with negative FMD test results.

Raw meat from cloven-hoofed animals slaughtered at registered abattoirs south of the VCF may be moved within areas south of the fence and into the ǁKharas Region.

Slaughter and processed products - Slaughter for personal consumption at home is permitted, provided the meat and meat products are not moved from the premises where the animals were slaughtered. Slaughter at farms or homesteads for commercial sale remains prohibited until further notice.

Meat from non-cloven-hoofed animals must remain identifiable, with the head and hooves attached, Shoombe said. The movement and trade of the following processed animal products are permitted, subject to existing veterinary protocols where applicable:

• Commercially produced, cooked and processed meat products from registered facilities.
• Thoroughly cooked meat.
• Commercially produced biltong and dried sausages (droëwors) from registered facilities.
• Pasteurised milk and dairy products from registered facilities.
• Treated hides and trophies.
• Hides processed to the wet-blue stage.

The importation and transit of raw meat from cloven-hoofed animals and other animal products are permitted with a valid veterinary import or transit permit. Animals held and ready for export may be exported, except those in the ǁKharas Region. Exports remain subject to the importing country’s requirements.

Farmers urged to report symptoms - Shoombe said clinical signs of FMD include sores and blisters in the mouth and between the hooves.

Infected animals may be reluctant to move, salivate excessively and lose body condition. Shoombe urged farmers, members of the public and other stakeholders to watch for symptoms and report suspected cases to the nearest state veterinary office. “The public will be kept informed as new information becomes available, subject to changes in the disease situation in the country,” he said.