SUSPECTED Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has broken out

SUSPECTED Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has broken out in southern
province and over 25, 000 animals are at risk of getting the disease.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary Edwin Zumbunu has confirmed the
development but could not give further details on the matter and
referred all queries on detailed information to the provincial
veterinary officer.
However, Mr Zumbunu said that the Government has released K 20
million to address the problem immediately.
“I can confirm that there is an outbreak of FMD in Livingstone and
Kazungula districts, about K 20 million have been released towards the
same programme to control the diseases.
Mr Zumbunu said the ranches that are near Livingstone had been affected.
And Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) in Livingstone –Kazungula has
called the government to be more proactive by ensuring the ministry is
well funded.
ZNFU Livingstone –Kazungula chairperson, Ruth Henson said that there
is lapse in the vaccination of the animals on FMD and explained that
the inconstancies in the vaccinations would have contributed to the
outbreak.
She said vaccination of the animals has not been done as it should be
done at least twice per year.
Ms Henson said the livestock sector need more funding especially that
this part of the country the crop are not as viable as livestock.
She called on the farmers in the two districts to ensure that they
put in place stock movement control measures.
“If the veterinary department is given enough funds then, they would
be able to control the disease by vaccinating,” Ms Henson said.
Efforts to get a comment failed from the provincial veterinary officer
as he was reported to be on tour with the deputy minister of
agriculture and livestock.
Times of Zambia investigations have revealed that the vaccinations
have never been done since 2010 and that the two districts are prone
to FMD as they are near the game park where buffaloes are resident
which are the vectors for the disease.
The aspect of controlling diseases those are of economic importance to
the country like FMD and contagious bovine plural pneumonia (CBPP) are
Government responsibility.
Ends

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