Southern Africa: Buffalo From Zimbabwe Expose Botswana Cattle to Possible Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Gaborone, Botswana — Botswana has put restrictions on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals in the northeast of the country after an incursion of buffalo from Zimbabwe put cattle at risk of contracting possible foot-and-mouth disease.

Zimbabwe National Parks reports that more than 500 buffalo recently crossed into Botswana from the Hwange National Park in search of water and food.

Botswana authorities fear the buffalo could spread foot-and-mouth disease to the country’s cows, sheep and goats.