SHISELWENI – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini toured foot and mouth disease (FMD) checkpoints across the Shiselweni region on Thursday, as government moves to contain a fresh outbreak of the livestock disease.
The visit comes a day before the country expects to receive its first batch of FMD vaccines, which the Prime Minister confirmed will arrive tomorrow. Vaccination campaigns are set to begin immediately.
During his visit, Dlamini reminded the public that this is not Eswatini’s first encounter with the disease, referencing past outbreaks in 1964, 1969, and 2001. He said government is drawing from previous experience and has committed resources toward ensuring the situation is brought under control before it spreads to other regions.
Speaking at one of the checkpoints, the Prime Minister warned that the outbreak threatens the country’s beef export industry and could lead to job losses if not contained swiftly. He urged livestock owners and residents to stop transporting cattle, meat, and plant materials between regions without official clearance.
He called on citizens to cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), who are leading the response.
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