WINDHOEK, January 13 (Reuters) – Namibia has been hit by another outbreak of a highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease after the discovery of infectious cattle in the northern regions of Oshana and Ohangwena, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday .
The country’s chief veterinary officer Albertina Musilika-Shilongo said the nearby areas of Oshikoto, Omusati and Kunene in the north have been designated as disease control areas in efforts to stop further outbreaks.
The movement of all live animals with a bell in and out of the areas was immediately banned.
The government has also banned the transport of other potentially infectious substances from the affected areas such as hides, skins, game trophies and plant products.
The barriers to movement have now affected eight of the 14 regions in the country.
The disease, which only affects humans and causes knee and knee injuries in cattle and sheep, was first detected in the Ndiyona constituency in the northern Kavango region in late September.
A month later, it spread to Kavango West district and Shighuru village which is also in Kavango East district.
Namibia’s value-free, hormone-free beef has been seen entering the lucrative markets of China, the European Union and America. But there are strong fears that any further spread would prevent potentially damaging cattle exports to the country’s economy, which was expected to contract with 7.3% higher than 2020, according to Bank of Namibia estimates. (Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; edited by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo, William Maclean)
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