Govt to lift ban on Foot and Mouth Disease on 5th July 2018

Kampamba Mulenga – Chief Government Spokesperson Pic by Albert Mpezeni

Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Kampamba Mulenga says the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Chibombo and Chisamba districts has been contained, and that the ban on the measures instituted will be lifted next week on 5^th July.

She explains that in a bid to control and contain Foot and Mouth Disease in cattle in Chibombo and Chisamba districts, government banned slaughter of cattle, pigs, goats, Sheep and Wildlife at abattoirs.

Ms Mulenga says about 31,500 cattle have been vaccinated against the foot and mouth disease (FMD) while the booster vaccination covered 61, 000 cattle.

She says the immunization against Foot and Mouth Disease was done in the high risk or endemic areas namely Kafue Flats, lower Zambezi from Livingstone to Sioma and the Mbala/Isoka areas.

In a ministerial statement to Parliament on the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Chisamba and Chibombo Districts, Ms. Mulenga says so far, over K10 million has been spent on FMD vaccination countrywide.

She says investigation have indicated that serotype O was spread into central Zambia through movement of infected cattle from Northern Zambia where an outbreak of FMD serotype O is ongoing.

Ms Mulenga says her Ministry has since intensified the construction of check points along the great north road to curb this vice which is becoming rampant.