OKAKARARA — An outbreak of lumpy skin disease has been reported in the Otjituuo and Okamatapati villages of the Okakarara Constituency, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to impose restrictions on cattle movement in the area.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the acting chief veterinary officer in the Department of Veterinary Services, eight cattle have been diagnosed with the disease, which is known to cause nodules on the skins of cattle and can occasionally be fatal. The announcement came through a media statement released on Friday. Lumpy skin disease is a vector-borne infectious disease primarily transmitted through insect bites.
“Therefore, all cattle showing clinical signs should receive vitamins, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics to control the secondary bacterial infection,” Dr. Shoopala advised. He urged farmers in the affected areas to vaccinate their healthy cattle and implement control measures against the vectors responsible for the disease’s transmission.
To protect the commercial meat industry and prevent the disease’s spread, the Directorate of Veterinary Services has established movement restrictions for cattle. “Cattle moving from the affected areas should not show signs of the lumpy skin disease, and they should be vaccinated 21 days before their movement is effected from the affected areas,” Dr. Shoopala stated. Similar precautions are advised for cattle moving into the affected zones to ensure containment of the disease.
Dr. Shoopala called for full cooperation from the farmers in the Otjozondjupa Region to help the directorate combat the outbreak effectively. This collective effort is crucial for controlling the spread of lumpy skin disease and safeguarding both the local cattle population and the broader agricultural economy.