Namibia has been hit by another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) after detecting infected cattle in the northern regions of Oshana and Ohangwena, the ministry of agriculture said earlier this month.
According to Reuters, the country’s Chief Veterinary Officer Albertina Musilika-Shilongo said neighboring regions “have been declared disease management areas in attempts to stop the further spread of the outbreak.”
The government has also banned the transportation of other potentially infectious commodities out of the affected areas, such as hides, skins, game trophies and plant materials.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access Kent Bacus said in a press release, “The unfortunate and continued presence of FMD outbreaks in Namibia is a serious concern for U.S. cattle producers. While the latest outbreak occurred in the buffer zone and north of the cordon fence, this is the second occurrence of FMD in a matter of months…
“While NCBA supports regionalization as a tool to protect against the spread of disease while facilitating science-based trade, NCBA encourages USDA to remain vigilant in ensuring all preventative measures are in place to protect the U.S. cattle industry from exposure.”
