An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that was discovered last week in Zambia’s Southern Province has spread to various parts of the country, threatening beef exports, an official said on Thursday.
The disease, which usually kills cattle, is spreading quickly in the Southern African country because of a lack of vaccines.
Agriculture Ministry official Morrison Kunda told state radio that the disease has spread to Central Province where 8 000 animals have been affected and close to 15 000 animals are likely to contract the disease.
Kunda said the government has now banned cattle movement from the Central Province of Zambia, a few days after a similar ban was imposed in Southern Province in an effort to curb the disease.
About 5 000 animals have been affected by foot and mouth in Southern Province and 18 000 are at risk.
Minister of Agriculture Mundia Sikatana on Monday said the spread of foot-and-mouth disease is threatening Zambia’s beef exports to the European Union market.
”We have to move quickly in combating this disease or else we may face an export ban from the EU market,” Sikatana said.
The disease causes sores on the mouth and feet of the animal. — Sapa-AFP