Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA remains free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), but authorities are on high alert as outbreaks continue in neighbouring countries, including South Africa and Botswana. Veterinary officials are warning livestock producers to adhere strictly to biosecurity measures to protect the country’s disease-free status, while regional developments highlight the ongoing risk to Southern Africa’s livestock industry.
Although Namibia, including both protected and infected zones, remains free of FMD, confirmed cases have recently been reported in Botswana along its eastern border with Zimbabwe, echoing an outbreak from two years ago. Suspected cases have also emerged in the Kgari and Moroka areas in Botswana’s North East District, prompting targeted vaccination campaigns. In South Africa, outbreaks persist in high-risk regions, although the Northern Cape bordering Namibia remains unaffected.
Namibia’s Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), supported by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPBN), has implemented stringent precautionary measures, including the electrification of border sections, intensified disinfection at border posts and airports, and restrictions on the import of animal products without valid permits. Farmers are being urged to use dedicated clothing and footwear, disinfect vehicles, and limit contact with livestock following travel to high-risk areas.
PICTURED: Cattle being vaccinated for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Kgari village, Botswana, as part of government-led surveillance and prevention efforts. Photo: Republic of Botswana Ministry of Lands and Agriculture
Dr. Anja Boshoff-De Witt of the LLPBN stressed that farm-level vigilance is critical, adding that the FMD virus can survive in mud and organic material for extended periods. “Travellers returning from South African farms, auctions, or feedlots may unknowingly carry the virus on clothing, shoes, or vehicles. It is vital that everyone follows biosecurity measures to keep Namibia safe,” she said.
In South Africa, the Department of Agriculture has intensified its FMD control measures, including a large-scale vaccination rollout using vaccines from Argentina, Turkey, and Botswana. The government is working to implement a scientifically controlled, centrally monitored vaccination programme to regain “FMD-free status with vaccination,” while cautioning against private vaccination initiatives that could undermine the strategy.
Botswana has also launched proactive vaccination and surveillance efforts in affected zones. In Kgari village, for example, over 500 cattle were vaccinated, giving farmers hope that the disease will not spread further. Movement restrictions, including bans on transporting, slaughtering, or moving cloven-hoofed animals outside designated zones, remain in place across the country.
Namibia’s veterinary authorities have a comprehensive contingency plan ready for rapid deployment in the event of an outbreak. Stakeholders, including the Namibian Defence Force, police, and private sector producers, are part of a coordinated response team. The public is urged to report any suspected cases immediately to local state veterinarians and to avoid spreading misinformation that could trigger unnecessary panic.
Through strict biosecurity measures, responsible travel behaviour, and adherence to official directives, Namibia aims to maintain its FMD-free status and protect its livestock sector from the growing regional threat.
