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Herd immunity by December 2026. This is the minister of agriculture’s expectation according to his four-phase foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) eradication strategy. However, given the Western Cape’s context, there is a strong possibility of achieving this goal even earlier.
So said Western Cape’s minister of agriculture, economic development and tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, during a media briefing to discuss the FMD prevention roll-out strategy of the Western Cape.
The briefing was convened by Western Cape premier, Alan Winde, while Dr Meyer, Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, head of Western Cape agriculture; and Dr Noluvuyo Magadla, director of animal health in the Western Cape, provided inputs.
Western Cape hotspots
According to Dr Magadla, there are currently two FMD hotspots in the province, one in the Cape Winelands and Drakenstein areas, and another around Mossel Bay and George. To date, 15 000 doses of vaccines have already been administered in these areas. The National Department of Agriculture has allocated 30 000 doses to the Western Cape so far, with plans to scale this up to more than 400 000 over the coming weeks.
The immediate focus, she explained, is to vaccinate as many animals as possible to reduce transmission and prevent any new introduction of the virus into the province. All infected and suspected herds have been targeted for immediate vaccination. Her department no longer waits for lab results before vaccination. “We do take blood samples, but we vaccinate anyway,” she said.
The next priority is to vaccinate neighbouring farms along with identified high-risk herds. This applies to informal settlements where animals roam uncontrolled, large dairy herds, and high-risk beef herds.
Provincial strategy
The province has adopted a 21-point FMD response plan to contain the national outbreak and protect the province’s R13,5 billion livestock sector.
The province’s response plan is based on five key pillars:
- Immediate vaccination.
- Movement control with 24/7 border monitoring.
- Ongoing monitoring and traceability, supported by the rapid response of provincial veterinary services.
- Communication, by-law enforcement and the implementation of contingency plans.
- Recovery involving cleaning operations and supervision of quarantine areas.
The province has allocated R100 million for vaccine procurement.
Movement control is critical
Movement control involves continuous monitoring at provincial borders to prevent the entry of infected animals. In addition, a draft permitting system has been gazetted to regulate and track the movement of all cloven-hoofed livestock. All livestock movements must be reported via the official movement app.
A dedicated FMD war room has been set up to co-ordinate various stakeholders involved in containing the disease. The Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory has also been accredited to conduct local FMD testing, which should speed up response times considerably.
Private veterinarians can now register to strengthen the province-wide vaccination drive, and the Western Cape Government cabinet has resolved to bring in additional veterinary technicians.
“We are fighting to protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, to secure jobs and the future of our agricultural exports,” premier Winde said. “This is a collective responsibility, and we need every livestock owner to stand with us. Biosecurity is our first line of defence. Moving animals without permits or neglecting basic hygiene protocols puts the entire province and country at risk. I urge all residents to work with us to fully contain the spread of FMD. Stop the illegal movement of cattle, report any signs of illness immediately, and safeguard your farm boundaries. We will continue to push for provinces to procure their own vaccines.”
The public, particularly the agriculture sector, is encouraged to use the Western Cape Department of Agriculture FMD hotline: 080 928 4102 (Press 1 for FMD). – Izak Hofmeyr, Plaas Media
