Namibian agricultural delegation attends FMD meetings in Pretoria

Dr. Ingrid Henckert-Weissnar, head of the local foot-and-mouth disease FMD Support Fund, described the meetings as insightful. The delegation also included Jako van Wyk, chairperson of the LPO, his deputy Dawie Kok, and an NAU member. These events occurred amidst the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease threat to Namibia's FMD-free status south of the veterinary cordon fence.

Discussions focused on the spread of the virus in South Africa and its impact on neighboring countries, emphasizing narrative control, data-driven planning, fragmentation resolution, and communication improvement. Delegates concluded that effective regional FMD management requires stronger public-private partnerships, enhanced data sharing, honest communication, the establishment of a joint SADC vaccine bank, and the potential creation of a vaccinated buffer zone along the South Africa-Namibia border. The Octavoscene FMD symposium, themed 'Science, strategy and a stark reminder', featured international experts sharing insights on FMD control, including updates on global FMD virus tracking, Germany's 2025 outbreak containment, new research on meat safety in recovered cattle, and South Africa's intensifie