Re-emergence of foot-and-mouth disease in Botswana

Abstract

The re-emergence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana is reported. The disease outbreak occurred in the Matsiloje Extension Area of Francistown veterinary district situated in the northeastern part of the country in an Office International des épízooties (OIE) recognized FMD free zone without vaccination. The disease affected cattle only and did not spillover into sheep and goats resident in the same extension area, as demonstrated by lack of seroconversion to FMD when tested. The virus isolate associated with the outbreak was identified as FMD virus; Southern African Territories (SAT) type SAT-2. The disease outbreak is discussed in relation to FMD outbreaks that have occurred previously within and outside Botswana.

Transmission of foot and mouth disease at the wildlife/livestock interface of the Kruger National Park, South Africa: Can the risk be mitigated?

“…During the last decades of the 20 th century, the implementation of specific control measures in exporting countries in the region, such as veterinary cordon fences and regular vaccination of cattle herds exposed to buffalo contacts, has managed to limit the occurrence of the disease in the region to less than one outbreak per decade. However, since 2000, the region has been experiencing a serious re-emergence of the disease (Baipoledi et al, 2004;Jori et al, 2009;Thomson et al, 2013a), with a frequency of at least one outbreak per year in areas where the disease was previously under control.…”

Wildlife-livestock interface, veterinary cordon fence damage, lack of protection zones, livestock theft and owner apathy: Complex socio-ecological dynamics in Foot and Mouth disease control in southern Africa

“…Since previous FMD outbreaks in the area have been traced back to Zimbabwe (e.g. Baipoledi et al 2004;Mokopasetso and Derah 2005), livestock farmers felt the need to have a protection zone along the border to act as a first line of defence. The major challenge with the transboundary transmission of FMD as noted by Sinkala et al (2014) is that surveillance systems are not always synchronized between countries, or during outbreaks and control strategies are not carried out simultaneously, thus spillovers are inevitable.…”

“…The earliest recorded FMD case was in 1933 caused by a variant of FMDV type O (Walker 1934), and this has been the only outbreak caused by the type O serotype. From 1935 to 1947, there is a dearth of knowledge though it is suspected that outbreaks could have been due to the Southern African Territories (SAT) serotypes (Baipoledi et al 2004). Eight outbreaks of FMD were further observed during the periods 1948 to 1970 (Falconer 1972(Falconer ), 1977(Falconer to 1979(Falconer and 1980 caused by SAT viruses 1, 2 and 3 or their combinations.…”

“…Eight outbreaks of FMD were further observed during the periods 1948 to 1970 (Falconer 1972(Falconer ), 1977(Falconer to 1979(Falconer and 1980 caused by SAT viruses 1, 2 and 3 or their combinations. Then two decades lapsed without any new outbreaks until 2002 to 2003 Baipoledi et al 2004).…”

“…Despite these commendable efforts which have largely contained the disease (Baipoledi et al 2004;Mokopasetso and Derah 2005), the occasional outbreak of the transboundary FMD as well as the resultant economic cost and social disruption calls for a rethink in Botswana's approach. Research efforts have been directed more at the technical and less on the economical (e.g.…”