Foot and mouth disease found in Limpopo province

An outbreak of FMD was detected this month in the previous FMD free zone in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, said Reggie Ngobo, spokesperson of the department. He said the infection was detected in two locations and involved cattle in communal grazing areas. He said the disease was confirmed in laboratory results after provincial veterinary services conducted an epidemiological investigation.

“One of the two new infected locations is in the disease management area (DMA), which was declared in January 2019 and remains in place, while the other is north of it. Other locations in the area with clinical signs suggestive of FMD are under investigation,” Ngcobo said He said the outbreak was most likely due to spill-over from an outbreak in an adjacent FMD protection zone, which was detected in March last year.

Ngcobo said surveillance activities in the newly affected area were underway to determine the extent of the spread of the disease both within the DMA and to the north of the DMA. Vaccination in the area had also started in an effort to curtail the further spread of the disease. “There are permanent movement restrictions in place in the protection zone, preventing the free movement of cloven-hoofed livestock into the FMD free zone.

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“The affected dip tanks were placed under quarantine and no cloven-hoofed animals were allowed to move from these locations.” “There are preconditions for the resumption of auctions. They will only be conducted under stringent conditions. All livestock agents must be registered with the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC).

“Only buy animals from known and proven sources. Buyers should insist on a veterinary health declaration before animals are brought onto their farms and always place new arrivals in isolation until they are satisfied with their health status.

“I wish to remind all livestock keepers of their responsibilities in terms of Section 11 of the Animals Diseases Act, 1984, that any owner or manager of land on which there are animals, to take all reasonable steps to prevent the infection of the animals with any animal disease, or parasite and the spreading thereof from the relevant land or animals,” said Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza.

She also added that she is aware of the social and economic impact this decision had on owners, traders, and the general sector stakeholders, and she wants to reassure the nation that the decision was not taken lightly and was implemented as a disease control measure. The minister also emphasised that the state’s veterinary services are continuing to collaborate with affected farmers to determine the best way forward to resolve the outbreaks on the infected farms.