Effective separation of livestock from potential sources of infection. For SAT serotype infections in southern Africa the usual source of infection for domestic animals, certainly in the case of cattle, is close contact with herds of African buffalo infected with all three SAT serotypes. Individual carrier buffalo may also transmit SAT viruses to cattle but that mechanism of transmission occurs only rarely (FAO, 2016b; Xxxxxxx et al. 1992; Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, 2004; Xxxxx et al., 2014). However, should one or more lineages of SAT virus become adapted to survival in cattle (as is the case in East Africa for example), such viruses become independent of buffalo for their maintenance and spread. There is no evidence that SAT viruses in Zimbabwe have become adapted to persistence in cattle but, equally, there is no proof that that could not be the case. Currently there is no doubt that in Zimbabwe separation between buffalo and cattle in lowveld areas – particularly Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo, southern Manicaland and north-eastern parts of the Midlands – is inadequate. None of the National Parks in these areas are effectively fenced to prevent contact between cattle and buffalo. As is well known, some fencing systems such as the ‘Buffalo Fence’ that runs from near the Botswana border south of Hwange NP across the country in a northerly direction, has not been adequately maintained for many years. In the south-east, where FMD has traditionally presented the major FMD problem in Zimbabwe, North Gonarezhou NP has recently been game-fenced to prevent incursion of adjacent communities into the Park but South Gonarezhou NP and some of the large conservancies with relatively large buffalo populations (e.g. Save Valley Conservancy and Nuanetsi) the fencing system is substandard. A small buffalo population in the area of the Mateke Hills presents a similar problem. Most serious are some conservancies containing buffalo where resettlement has occurred and as a result cattle and infected buffalo are in continuous close contact (e.g. Humani Ranch). Furthermore, there is good evidence that some buffalo movement – presumably in both directions – occurs across the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s Xxxxxx XX as well as between the Hwange NP and adjacent countries (Xxxxx et al., 2016). A significant problem in connection with fencing is that although standards have been laid down in the past there is currently a lack of clarity concerning fencing standards to control the movement of wildlife,
