OPUWO, Namibia — The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has confirmed an outbreak of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), known as Lungsickness, in the Kunene Region. This serious cattle disease was detected in a herd at Okapuindja, 51 kilometers from Opuwo, where eight cattle tested positive and one died as of July 1, 2024.

According to Namibia Press Agency, CBPP is caused by Mycoplasma Mycoides and primarily affects cattle and water buffalo, leading to severe respiratory symptoms including fever, labored breathing, cough, and nasal discharge. The disease, historically one of the world's major cattle epidemics alongside foot and mouth disease and rinderpest, is highly contagious with a mortality rate exceeding 50%, posing significant risks to livestock populations.

The disease spreads through direct contact between infected and susceptible animals, complicating control efforts as some carriers show no symptoms. The ministry emphasized that there is no treatment for CBPP and infected animals continue to pose a risk of transmitting the disease further. It also clarified that humans are not susceptible to Lungsickness, thus there is no public health risk associated with this outbreak.

In response to the outbreak, the ministry has enacted stringent control measures under the Animal Health Act of 2011. These include a complete ban on the movement of live cattle within and out of the Opuwo Urban constituency, except for direct slaughter under veterinary supervision within 48 hours. Additionally, there is a moratorium on moving cattle lung tissue from slaughtered animals in the area, and a suspension of cattle gathering activities until further notice.

Active disease surveillance initiatives are being launched to determine the extent of the outbreak, with roadblocks set up at strategic locations to ensure compliance with these measures. The ministry is urging local farmers to cooperate by presenting their livestock for CBPP vaccinations and inspections to prevent further spread of the disease.