Wild Animals Spreading More Foot and Mouth in Botswanan Cattle
BOTSWANA - Cattle in Botswana's Ngamiland region are suffering from more outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease.
One of the outbreaks of the disease affected 26 cattle out of a susceptible population of 170 animals grazing in a communal area. The cattle were found by the farmer to have teat, feet and mouth lesions consistent with Foot and Mouth Disease, and laboratory investigations are ongoing.
Another cluster of six outbreaks of Foot and Mouth was reported separately to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). These outbreaks were identified after surveillance and investigations in a zone surrounding a previous outbreak.
The six outbreaks affected 49 cattle out of a susceptible population of 3741 cattle, and all six farms were situated very close together in Ngamiland.
The infection in all these outbreaks is thought to have spread through illegal movement of livestock and contact with wild species.
TheCattleSite News Desk