Africa-Press – Mozambique. There are still no vaccines to contain the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting approximately 3,600 head of cattle in the Massingir district of Gaza province. To address the situation, 120,000 vaccine doses are needed.
Since June, Gaza province, which leads the national ranking with a herd of 573,000 head of cattle, has been struggling to combat the disease. The outbreak affects 1,900 cattle and 1,800 goats in the communities of Xibotane and Marringane, directly impacting 230 local farmers.
While awaiting the arrival of vaccines, authorities have strengthened containment measures, including banning the movement and sale of cattle and livestock products from Massingir. The Mabalane district, with the second largest cattle herd in the province, is also included in the restrictions, although it has not yet recorded any new cases.
Meanwhile, other diseases – those transmitted by ticks – have killed more than 300 head of cattle in eight districts: Guijá, Chókwè, Bilene, Limpopo, Xai-Xai, Chonguene, Mandlakazi, and Chibuto.
Cattle ranchers are desperate and calling for urgent government intervention to save their animals. In some areas, deaths are occurring daily. In the Limpopo district alone, it is estimated that the situation has already affected more than 6,000 head of cattle.
Authorities acknowledge the lack of medication, stating that they have been encouraging ranchers to purchase the products themselves. Currently, the sector only has approximately 7,000 to 8,000 litres of treatment products.
This is the second outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease recorded in Massingir in less than a year.
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