Animal health
Update on the foot and mouth disease in Eastern Cape
The outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Kouga and Kou-kamma Municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province remain of great concern. Cattle on 26 farms have tested positive for the disease. Cattle on these positive farms have been vaccinated to decrease the viral load and to control[...]
Theileriosis: Southern Africa on alert after breakout in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe veterinary services have confirmed an outbreak of Theileriosis throughout the country. January disease In Africa, this disease, also known as January disease, is caused by the cattle-adapted Theileria parva, which is transmitted by brown ear ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus). Another similar disease which is caused by buffalo-adapted Theileria[...]
Botswana on alert for foot-and-mouth
A herd of buffalo that entered into Botswana from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in September has forced Botswana to put restrictions on the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals in the northeast of the country. Botswana is largely an FMD-free country, and the country jealously guards this status to protect[...]
Improving the cattle industry’s health
Delivering a quality beef product to South African and global consumers begins with premium cattle. But healthy animals are made, and this is a collaborative process that requires input from multiple players, including primary producers like farmers, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, pharmaceutical companies and feedlots. This is the view of[...]
Tick-borne diseases of Zimbabwe: Lumpy skin disease (LSD)
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease that occurs across the globe. It is a transboundary disease that is categorised as a notifiable disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The disease is caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) that belongs to the family Poxviridae,[...]