Foot and mouth hits Zambia

2004-08-22 12:07

Lusaka - Zambia has banned the movement of cattle from a southern province following an outbreak of the foot and mouth disease which has affected some 5 000 animals, an official said Sunday.

Frank Lubasi, the agriculture co-ordinator of the Itezhi-tezhi district - the epicentre of the outbreak - told AFP that the movement of cattle from the Southern Province had been banned to contain the disease.

"So far over 5 000 animals have been infected and more than 18 000 are likely to contract the disease if measures are not put in place immediately," Lubasi said.

Itezhi-tezi district, about 300km from the capital Lusaka, has several cattle farms.

Out of the estimated 18 000 cattle there only 3 400 had been vaccinated, the state-run Times of Zambia said on Saturday.

The veterinary department is expected to vaccinate about 12 000 animals in the area, the paper said, adding that the programme had been slow due to governmental apathy.

The foot and mouth disease, which usually kills cattle, was spreading quickly in the area because of lack of vaccines, Lubasi said.

The disease causes sores on the mouth and feet of the animal.

- AFP