Performance Audit Report: Control of FMD CHAPTER 1  1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1.1 INTRODUCTION  Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven- hoofed domestic and wild animals, such as cattle, bison, pigs, sheep, goats, and  deer. Because FMD is highly contagious, it is arguably one of the most  destructive/devastating livestock diseases in terms of economic impact  throughout the world. $^{1}$  This disease is often referred to as an economic disease  because of the magnitude of economic harm that would result from production  losses of livestock and severe restriction of agricultural exports during an FMD  outbreak. 2 FMD was first reported in Botswana in the early 1930’s when the country became  infected through the spread of the disease from the then Rhodesia and South  Africa. It was later eradicated in 1934, but only to reappear sporadically  throughout the 1940’s, 1950’s, 70’s and 80’s. Thereafter, no outbreaks were  recorded until 2002. 3  Botswana has developed a national FMD control strategy  hinging on the following pillars: passive and active surveillance, movement  controls, zoning, strategic vaccination, stamping out where relevant, biosecurity,  good legal framework, public education and awareness as well as bilateral and  regional collaboration. As a result, the country has progressively extended its  FMD free zones over the years since 1994. Currently, 85% of its cattle population  resides in FMD free zones. FMD freedom opens up animal movements locally,  regionally and creates access to all levels of markets including international  markets. 4 $^{1}$ THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF A FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE OUTBREAK: A REGIONAL ANALYSIS (2007) by Dustin  L. Pendell, John Leatherman, Ted C. Schroeder, and Gregory S. Alward  $^{2}$ FootAndMouthDiseaseInfo.org  $^{3}$ REVIEW OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGIES IN BOTSWANA (JUNE 20012), DEPARTMENT OF  VETERENARY SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH BOTSWANA VACCINE INSTITUTE  $^{4}$ FAO/OIE SUB-REGIONAL SEMINAR, 16-18 MARCH 2011  1 |  P a g e