28 April 2006
The Directorate of Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture has been
informed on 26 April 2006 by the Botswana Veterinary Authorities of a suspicion
of a foot and mouth disease outbreak within Botswana, close to the South
African border.
The suspected outbreak occurred within Botswana, approximately 45 km from
the South African border, near the meeting points of the borders of Botswana,
South Africa and Zimbabwe. The outbreak is within the non-vaccinated export
zone of Botswana. Laboratory confirmation of the disease outbreak has not been
received yet by the Botswana Veterinary Authorities.
South African Veterinary Officials have been put on full alert after the
notification of the suspicious outbreak in Botswana. An import ban of
cloven-hoofed animals and their products has been imposed by the Directorate of
Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture. The presence of officials at
the official border posts with Botswana has been increased to enforce this
ban.
The presence of officials along the borders between the Limpopo and North
West provinces of South Africa on the one hand and the border of Botswana on
the other hand has also been increased to prevent the illegal introduction of
cloven-hoofed animals or their products from Botswana into South Africa. The
Limpopo River acts as a natural barrier between South Africa and Botswana,
which will make control along the border easier.
Surveillance will be conducted by Veterinary Officials on farms along the
border with Botswana to ensure that South Africa is not affected by this
disease outbreak.
For further information contact:
Steve Galane
Tel: (012) 319 7312
Cell: 083 635 7346
E-mail:smais@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
28 April 2006
