The Omaheke State Veterinary Department has started to sensitise farming communities on how to control external parasites on their animals following the outbreak of Crimean-Congo Fever in the region.

The virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animals blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter.

The regional veterinary team is also planning to do some sample testing at various farms to establish areas of concern.

A state veterinarian at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region, Dr. Elifas Junias, says the farming community has an important role to play in controlling the transmission of the virus from animals to people.

Dr. Junias also added that proper medicine should be applied by farmers when controlling tick bites, and it should be done in accordance with animal health protocols.

"We have various stakeholders who are willing to help us go to the farms and do tick treatments and also take samples since we don't know where exactly this virus is coming from. So we have to go out there and take blood samples as well as sample ticks that we have to send to the labs so that we can at least find out where exactly this virus is coming from since it's also endemic in Namibia. When we do that, we will be able to target all our energy to specific farms that are infected or that are having such a virus."

Farmers in the region acknowledged the danger the virus poses to all Namibians, and farmers were urged to be vigilant when handling their animals.

Dr. Anna Homateni reminded the farming community to take precautions when handling animals.

The veterinary team is expected to begin the awareness outreach campaigns early next month.