The government of Zimbabwe has announced the suspension of all livestock and meat imports from South Africa after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was discovered on a farm in Limpopo near the Zimbabwean border.
This is the second time this year a quarantine has been placed on South African products, with the highly contagious foot and mouth disease returning 10 months after it was first reported in January.
The precautionary ban was implemented by the Zimbabwe Department of Agriculture after South African veterinarians warned them of a possible outbreak of the disease on a farm near the border.
“The suspension of imports from South Africa is a precautionary measure designed to prevent the spread of the infection into Zimbabwe,” the ministry said.
Foot and mouth disease does not affect humans but does pose a threat to cattle, goats, sheep and related meat products.
