Disease

Foot−and−mouth outbreak in Okongo, Namibia

THE Okongo constituency in the Ohangwena region is experiencing a recurrence of foot−and−mouth disease (FMD), just four months after Namibia was declared FMD−free.

The villages affected include Oshikome, Ombongola, Okakango kaShapwa, Okanyandi East, Okanyandi West, Ohiki, Omufimba, Ondamayomunghete, Ombabi, Okalupalelona and Oshishogolo.

The governor noted that the disease is ‘imported’ from neighbouring Angola, where some Namibian cattle graze among buffaloes which are known carriers of FMD.

Anthrax outbreak in Maragua, Kenya

One person has been hospitalized while hundreds were treated and discharged in Murang’a county after eating meat infected with anthrax.

The department of Agriculture and Livestock on Wednesday issued a quarantine at Gikomora village to avoid the spread of the disease. The county government also dispatched veterinary officers to vaccinate all livestock in the village for free.

This was after villagers consumed 5 cows suspected to have been infected with the deadly disease. By Tuesday night, 10 people had been put under surveillance after developing symptoms related to the disease.