Namibia free of foot and mouth disease

Namibia says there are no new cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) after months of battle to contain outbreaks, especially in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) of the country.

The agriculture minister John Mutorwa declared Namibia free of foot and mouth in a statement Friday.

"All indications are that the outbreak of foot and mouth in the previously infected areas has been successfully contained, hence the decision to lift the restrictions in the regions that were affected with immediate effect," the minister said.

Mutorwa, however, said there is need for the country to remain alert to any potential future outbreaks.

"The war against the eventual eradication of trans-boundary animal diseases including FMD from any part of Namibia's NCAs continues until our final victory," he said.

FMD is generally rife in buffaloes, and can spread to domestic animals.

The country's first case in 26 years was reported on May 11 last year in the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, while the last one was recorded at Etayi village on July 22.

The Namibian government swiftly acted by imposing animal movement restrictions and allocating 180 million Namibian dollars, or 11 million U.S dollars on vaccinations in the fight agaist the disease.