LUSAKA, Oct. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) could spread further in Zambia if it is not contained before the onset of the rainy season in December, local newspaper The Post reported Saturday.

    University of Zambia's veterinary lecturer Edwell Mwaanga was quoted as saying the disease could spread through water flows.

    "With the rains, the situation could deteriorate if the diseaseis not contained because the disease spread wherever the water goes from infected areas. To make matters worse, most rivers in the country are inter-linked," Mwaanga said.

    "The chances of the disease being spread by wind during the rainy season are also high," he added.

    Mwaanga said the move to permit some cattle movements in selected areas should have waited.

    "It's too early to allow the movement of animals because there is a risk the disease could spread," he said.

    Mwaanga said efforts must be directed at containing FMD in the affected areas before any movement could be permitted.

    The FMD first broke out in Central and Southern provinces in late June last year. Now the Zambian government has enforced a banon animal movement in the two provinces.

    Zambian Agriculture Minister Mundia Sikatana said FMD vaccination exercise has entered its final phase and would be overby mid next month.

    Sikatana said the disease has been contained but that the veterinary department would continue with surveillance across the areas where outbreaks were frequent. Enditem