Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to the uPhongolo Local Municipality has necessitated the government’s expansion of the disease management area (DMA) in KwaZulu-Natal to include newly affected areas and identified risk zones.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, the province has reported 155 cases as part of the serotype SAT-2 (South African Territories) FMD virus since the outbreak began in May 2021. While 17 of these outbreaks have been resolved and closed with the World Organisation for Animal Health, 133 outbreaks remain active within communal dip tanks, a few small-scale farms and five game reserves, all in close proximity, as stated by Sara-Lea van Eeden, the ministry of agriculture’s spokesperson on FMD.
Controls still in place
Van Eeden said in a press release that DMAs in both the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal remained active to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Producers on infected or vaccinated farms must take every precaution to prevent the spread of the disease. Likewise, producers in unaffected areas are urged to maintain strict biosecurity to prevent FMD from entering their farms or communal grazing areas,” Van Eeden said, adding that the movement of animals, vehicles, equipment and people should be minimised and subjected to thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Controlled slaughter of cattle from infected farms is still permitted at designated abattoirs with additional biosecurity measures in place. “The meat from restricted farms is safe for human consumption, but it cannot be exported due to certification constraints,” Van Eeden explained.
East London outbreak contained
Van Eeden confirmed that the FMD outbreak in East London has been contained. “The ministry extends its gratitude to the affected producers in the area for their vigilance and cooperation. Animals on these farms are being slaughtered in a controlled manner at designated abattoirs, ensuring that FMD risk materials are properly processed or disposed of. Only safe products are released into the local market.”
There are currently three abattoirs where cloven-hoofed animals from FMD-quarantined farms may be slaughtered. Seventeen farms have been granted permission for controlled slaughter at these abattoirs. – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
