Neno registers 172 foot and mouth disease cases

The Ministry of Agriculture says Neno District has registered 172 cases of foot and mouth disease out of the 23 kraals affected.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry’s Principal Secretary Sandram Maweru said the disease was reported on September 6 in the district and clinically confirmed on September 8 2022.

Reads the statement in part: “A preliminary investigation conducted by veterinary officials has reported 172 clinical cases out of the 23 kraals affected.

“A total of over 3 500 heads of cattle are at risk within the affected and the immediate surrounding areas. Detailed investigations are still ongoing to map the extent of the problem.”

To contain the spread of the disease within Blantyre Agriculture Development Division (ADD), the ministry has banned the sale of meat and meat products in the district.

The disease has also affected Nsanje and Chikwawa districts in the Shire Valley ADD.

Chikwawa was the first district to register the cases in early July followed by Nsanje, which as of August 31 2022, had registered 929 cases in 115 kraals in the three traditional authorities of Mbenje, Mlolo and Tengani.

Nsanje district principal agriculture officer Whytone Fole said they have intensified preventive measures to control the spread of the disease.

He said they will intensify control measures, including restriction of movement of animals from the affected areas. He added that they have closed slaughter houses and have banned the sale of meat.

In a separate interview, the ministry’s spokesperson Grecian Lungu said they are now focusing on the Neno situation to address the situation.

Foot and mouth disease mainly affects cattle, but can also affect other animal species such as sheep, goats and pigs.