Zambia to cull 20 000 cattle

2006-12-21 14:20

Lusaka - Veterinary authorities in Zambia are to cull 20 000 cattle in the south-west of the country to avert the spread of the deadly bovine pleuropneumonia disease, say reports.

The movement of livestock in the Kazungula and Sesheke districts, near the borders with Botswana and Namibia, had already been banned as a precautionary measure.

Kazungula district veterinary officer Jack Soko on Thursday estimated the cattle population in the area at about 40 000.

He said that however, 20 000 cattle had been diagnosed with the fatal contagious animal disease and 1 200 had already been culled.

Southern province minister Joseph Mulyata described the outbreak as a disaster, which should be nipped in the bud.

Authorities feared that infected cattle found along Zambezi River could easily result in a spread of the disease into neighbouring Botswana and Namibia if left to roam there.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA