04/10/2026
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed on 11 farms in the Karasburg Veterinary District in the //Kharas Region, with authorities now planning to vaccinate eligible livestock as part of an intensified containment strategy.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform said 79 of 530 samples tested positive for FMD as at 2 October, while 450 tested negative. One additional sample remains unconfirmed.
The outbreak, first detected on 22 September during routine surveillance at a farm in the Graswater area, was confirmed as FMD serotype SAT 1.
The ministry said the confirmed infections remain concentrated within the Karasburg State Veterinary District, but investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the outbreak and whether livestock movements may have resulted in exposure beyond the affected farms.
Thirteen surveillance teams have been deployed in the affected areas. By 2 October, veterinary officials had inspected 15,096 animals on 66 of 81 targeted farms. The remaining 15 farms are expected to be inspected by 5 October.
Livestock movements involving 47 establishments within a 30-kilometre radius of affected areas have also been investigated, extending to approximately 50km from affected premises.
Farmers have been warned not to vaccinate animals, move livestock or undertake other disease-control measures without authorisation from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS).
The ministry said the timely destruction of infected animals remains an important part of the response and that arrangements are being made to facilitate culling in accordance with veterinary requirements.
The outbreak has also resulted in the suspension of Namibia’s relevant FMD-free status, affecting international market access for livestock and livestock products. The ministry is engaging trading partners over consignments already in transit, recently arrived or in storage when the outbreak was announced.
The government estimates that N$190.19 million is required for the containment response. This includes about N$47 million for approximately 290km of disease-control fencing along a proposed route from Ariamsvlei through Karasburg to Ai-Ais.
Farmers, livestock traders, transporters, auctioneers and abattoirs have been urged to comply with quarantine and movement restrictions, provide accurate livestock-movement information and immediately report animals showing signs of FMD.
