Please be advised that the Zambian wildlife authority has with immediate effect banned all hunting on the Kafue Flats.
If any of us have booked a hunt for Kafue on the flats please do get in touch with your outfitter.
I have official notification that no part of the animal can be transported from the affected area.
The vetinary department will consificate the entire animal.There will be no hunting allowed until the area is given a clean report by the vetinary dept. My sources have confirmed off the record that the ban will probably be in place for this year.
This does not affect game ranches and is only applicable to the Kafue flats as far as I understand the sitiuation.

ZAMBIA: Authorities act to halt spread of foot-and-mouth


[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]


� FAO

Farmers rely on animal draught power

JOHANNESBURG, 23 Aug 2004 (IRIN) - Zambian authorities on Monday said plans were underway to vaccinate an estimated 52,000 cattle following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Southern Province.

Chief Veterinary Officer Dominque Minyoi told IRIN that the movement of cattle from Namwala District, the epicentre of the outbreak, had been banned to contain the disease.

He attributed the disease to the presence of buffaloes in the area, which are carriers of the virus.

"At least 37,000 cattle in Namwala will be vaccinated. Also, because of the illegal movement of cattle, some 15,000 cattle will be treated as well in the neighbouring Muunga district," Minyoi noted.

He said the outbreak jeopardised the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers in the affected areas, who relied on animal draught power to cultivate their fields.

"The reports so far indicate that farmers are very concerned about the outbreak, considering they rely heavily on these animals. We also are worried that this will affect our meat exports to neighbouring countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo and Angola," Minyoi said.

He noted that it had been "some time" since the last outbreak of FMD in the region.

The USDA is serious about FMD not getting into the USA. So If you've been in the area hunting,they'll look you over very carefully on reentry. Customs won't care much after the USDA gets through. When I was in RSA in 2000 there was an outbreak in Kwazulu that eventually spread to Europe. In Atlanta they disinfected everything we had that had touched the ground in Africa.

Hoof and Mouth ?

They sprayed our boots when we got back last month...

Depends on which "public servant" you get!