Botswana on Monday announced the outbreak of lumpy skin disease which is threatening the viability of the country’s beef industry.
Department of Veterinary Service director Letlhogile Modisa said the outbreak has been reported in some parts of the country and called on farmers to “vaccinate their cattle against lump skin diseases to minimise stock losses and avoid use of antibiotics.”
The latest development comes as Kuwait has issued a ban on imports on imports of meat and its meat derivatives from Botswana due to an outbreak of anthrax in the country.
Modisa however denied the outbreak of such as diseases as claimed by the Asian country.
“Contrary to the circulating media reports, our surveillance systems have not confirmed any anthrax cases in the domestic animal population for many years.
“Although the situation of anthrax in wildlife population is not entirely understood we would like to assure that it remains stable and an under constant monitoring,” said Modisa.
KO/jn/APA