The animal viral disease is unknown in Botswana and the cases are the first ever detected. In humans, we are told, the disease may present with fever, muscle or joint pains and bleeding from the nose, mouth and skin which can lead to death, while in animals it is characterised by abortion at all stages of pregnancy and high mortality in young ones. The ministry tells us that we should avoid potentially diseased meat, milk and other animal products from animals sick with the disease. The ministry has, in an in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease, banned free movement of cattle and livestock in areas within proximity of Seribe Crush, with immediate effect.
Animals may not enter, move within or exit the areas of Kgatleng, South East, and Gaborone all the way to the Greater Goodhope area. This effort is laudable. However this good effort is likely to be defeated by government's failure to plan. For many years councillors in various areas have called for slaughterhouses to be built in their areas. Without properly constructed and monitored slaughterhouses people slaughter animals anywhere.
