FMD Outbreak Reported in Botswana's Maun

BOTSWANA - Botswana's veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at a farm in Maun, affecting cattle and sheep/goats.
calendar icon 13 June 2012
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The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received an immediate notification dated 12 June 2012.

Out of 280000 susceptible cattle, 56 cases were identified. No deaths were reported, and no animals were destroyed.

The reoccurrence of the disease was detected after poor vaccination coverage following flooding of the area, which made some animals inaccessible for vaccination.

Ngamiland is an FMD control zone which is physically isolated from the rest of the country by disease control fences. The zone is further subdivided into four subzones (2a, 2b, 2c and 2d) by internal disease control fences. Cattle residing within the zone are routinely vaccinated every four months using a trivalent SAT 1, 2 and 3 vaccine.

Reoccurrence of FMD is suspected to be due to contact with cattle and buffaloes which crossed into the livestock area. The extensive surveillance so far has revealed that cattle affected are only within the subzone 2d.

As an FMD control zone, no movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their derived fresh products and other FMD risk material has been allowed out of the zone, therefore the outbreak does not affect the status of FMD free zones. There are established biosecurity check points at points of exit from the zone.

Contact with infected animal(s) at grazing/watering has been identified as the main source of the outbreak.

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