Emergency probe as FMD tests national buffers :: Mmegi Online

The Department of Veterinary Services is fast-tracking an investigation to verify whether an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease has occurred in the North-East and if so, its extent, with fears mounting around potential losses to farmers, the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), and costs to Batswana should yet another outbreak be confirmed.

Although the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) had not responded to emailed questions by Press time yesterday, other insiders said the results of the emergency probe were being fast-tracked and due by Thursday afternoon.

Under a restocking exercise that began after the August 2023 FMD outbreak in the same Masunga area, the government in October 2025 delivered the last cow. The government restocked the area with 7,000 cattle and should the latest suspected cases be confirmed, another culling exercise will have to take place and more funds be allocated to restocking.

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