Vehicles wait to go through a disinfection pool at a disease control station along the road of Francistown-Jackalas I Village in North East District, Botswana, Feb. 1, 2026. Botswanan veterinary authorities on Sunday confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a village in the northeastern part of the southern African country, near the border with Zimbabwe. (Photo by Shingirai Madondo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan veterinary authorities on Sunday confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a village in the northeastern part of the southern African country, near the border with Zimbabwe.

Kobedi Segale, acting director of veterinary services in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, confirmed the disease, which was first detected at Jackalas 1 village in the Tsamaya Extension Area of the Masunga district.

"Laboratory testing on the samples collected from some of the animals in the affected area confirmed the presence of the FMD," said Segale during a consultative meeting with cattle farmers at the village's main customary court.

He said the exact number of affected cattle has yet to be confirmed, as authorities have intensified surveillance to determine the magnitude of the impact.

On Wednesday, Botswana announced suspected FMD cases in its North East District, prompting immediate animal movement restrictions and a swift government response.

To contain the spread of the disease, veterinary authorities have since started implementing control measures, including strict quarantine enforcement, livestock movement controls, surveillance in and around affected locations, and farmer awareness campaigns. ■

A woman sanitizes her shoes at a disease control station along the road of Francistown-Jackalas I Village in North East District, Botswana, Feb. 1, 2026. Botswanan veterinary authorities on Sunday confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a village in the northeastern part of the southern African country, near the border with Zimbabwe. (Photo by Shingirai Madondo/Xinhua)