The Department of Veterinary Services wishes to inform the public and the farming community that the cattle destruction exercise in zone 6 is now complete. The Department will continue with intensive surveillance to ascertain absence of Foot and Mouth Disease in the next three months until the end of April 2012. The surveillance will entail clinical inspection and other relevant tests in goats, sheep, pigs and wildlife in the containment zone. After three months the Department will make an application to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for approval of the containment zone as an FMD free zone without vaccination.

Restocking of cattle in the containment zone will only start after approval of the containment zone as an FMD free zone by OIE. Any cattle that enter the containment zone before the approval by OIE will be destroyed and compensated at the normal compensation rate of P 400.00 per animal.

The farming community is advised that the FMD compensation office will relocate to Francistown Veterinary Office with effect of the 27^th February 2012.  Therefore, any services relating to the FMD Project will be offered at the Francistown Veterinary Office.

Lastly, the Department would like to take this opportunity to thank the farming community for their contribution and commitment to the successful control of the FMD outbreak.