Mohale FM The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition convened a meeting in Maseru on Monday, to establish a multi-sectoral team that will work to prevent and control a possible outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease should it reach Lesotho.
Principal Secretary in the ministry, Honourable Khathatso Tsooana, said the disease affects goats, cattle and pigs, with cattle being the most vulnerable. He noted that the meeting came at a critical time, as South Africa is currently experiencing an outbreak, placing Lesotho at high risk.
Tsooana explained that the objective of the meeting was to discuss preventive measures to stop the disease from entering the country and, in the event of an outbreak, to ensure that effective systems and a coordinated team are in place to manage and contain it.
Meanwhile, Director General in the Department of Veterinary Services, Dr Relebohile Lepheana, said Foot-and-Mouth Disease has seven different strains. She revealed that the neighboring country is currently affected by strains one, two and type O, with the O strain known to spread the fastest.
Dr Lepheana urged the ministry to intensify efforts to encourage livestock owners to properly identify and mark their animals according to their locations. She said this would make it easier to trace the source of infection and contain the disease should an outbreak occur in Lesotho.
