Nsanje Butchers on Friday stormed the district commissioner’s office to deliver a petition against a ban on slaughtering, marketing and movement of livestock to and from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) infected area.

A suspected Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has hit Nsanje’s Mpatsa Extension Planning area (EPA) forcing authorities to immediately ban the slaughtering, marketing and movement of livestock to and from the infected area.

The ministry of agriculture says about 300 cattle have been affected by a new Type-O Foot and Mouth disease which hit Mlonyeni Extension Planning Area in Mchinji district in February but has now spread to Ukwe Extension Planning Area in Lilongwe.

Agriculture officials in Lower Shire have vaccinated about 15, 000 cattle to protect the animals from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which has hit the area.