Let's stop Foot and Mouth together - De Graaff

Though he assured the nation yesterday that his ministry is working hard to contain the two contagious animal diseases, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and mange, and also to ensure that the FMD outbreak in the Plumtree sub district of Zimbabwe does not spill over to Botswana, he reiterated that its prevention can only be realised when farmers and the general public join hands with government to achieve the desired impact.

Of the major setbacks that his ministry faces, he cited farmer apathy, which usually breeds poor vaccination coverage in some areas. Outbreaks of FMD in southern Zimbabwe have a history of spilling over into Botswana. De Graaff said his ministry has since embarked on intensive boarder surveillance, movement restrictions, banning of importation of cloven hoofed animals and their products from Zimbabwe, blockade and boarder patrol and public education together with intensive maintenance of the cordon fence along the border.