Bloc Steps Up Animal Disease Response

GABORONE, BOTSWANA – Southern African nations are significantly escalating their collective response to the persistent threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), with a renewed emphasis on coordinated cross-border strategies to contain and ultimately eradicate the highly contagious livestock ailment. Discussions held recently in Gaborone, Botswana, underscored the critical importance of regional solidarity in tackling a disease that has consistently undermined the agricultural economies of member states, including Zambia. The concerted action aims to protect vital livestock industries, secure rural livelihoods, and safeguard food security across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. For Zambia, a nation where the livestock sector forms the backbone of many rural economies, contributing significantly to poverty reduction, household food security, and nutrition, FMD poses an existential threat. The country has a long history of battling FMD, with major outbreaks recorded since 1980, and the disease remains endemic in several high-risk areas, including parts of the Southern, Western, and Central provinces, as well as the northern border region. Recent reports confirm ongoing FMD outbreaks in Zambia, notably in the Western Province, prompting immediate restrictions on livestock movement and intensified control measures. These outbreaks not only lead to direct losses for farmers but also severely restrict Zambia's participation in regional and international livestock trade, impacting national revenue and economic growth. The regional approach, championed by organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stresses that no single country can effectively combat FMD in isolation due to its transboundary nature. Efforts are focusing on strengthening surveillance, early warning systems, preparedness, and coordinated rapid emergency responses. This includes collaborative vaccination programmes, improved biosecurity measures, and enhanced veter