‘We can beat this outbreak’
Mpumalanga, alongside Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, are currently suffering an outbreak of this scourge, which affects cloven-hoofed animals like cows, goats and pigs.
BUSHBUCKRIDGE – “Working together, we can beat foot-and-mouth disease.”
These were the words of the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Mr Senzeni Zokwana to the people of the region at the disease operation-compliance imbizo on Friday.
Zokwana and his deputy, Mr Bheki Cele and the MEC for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, Mr Andries Gamede, were in the area to inform people about the plans to curb an outbreak of the disease.
Mpumalanga, alongside Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, are currently suffering an outbreak of this scourge, which affects cloven-hoofed animals like cows, goats and pigs.
Zokwana urged the assembled people to follow the regulations set by them in order to curb its spread. These include reinforcing fences where livestock is kept, separating infected animals from those which are not infected, vaccinating and dipping them and most importantly, not allowing buffalo to graze with their animals.
He said this was important because buffalo were permanent carriers of the disease and it was not fatal to them. Community members were urged to report any buffalo that invaded their grazing land to their local veterinarian. Furthermore, the community was urged not to go into the Kruger National Park to find grazing land or water sources. This would increase the exposure of their livestock to the disease.
In addition, the department is also running a rabies-vaccination programme. Those with dogs were urged to have them vaccinated against rabies. It is fatal to human beings if a bite by an infected dog is left untreated.
The dipping and vaccination of animals is free of charge and the community is encouraged to comply with the programmes set up by the department.
