Foot-and-mouth disease on the decline in KZN

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has announced the reduction of the size of the disease management area (DMA) affected by foot-and-mouth diseases in KwaZulu-Natal.

This follows the conclusion of the second round of serological surveillance, where it was established that the disease, within the DMA, is still confined to two clusters of dip tanks in Mtubatuba and Nongoma.

This shows that the restriction on the movement of animals out of, within, through and into the area was sufficient to prevent the disease from spreading.

“Since the disease did not spread within or outside of the DMA, the size of the KZN DMA can now be decreased.

ALSO READ: Movement of animals halted amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

“This will release areas that remained free of the disease from movement restrictions, while still maintaining restrictions on those areas where the disease is still present,” Didiza said.

The minister declared in the Government Gazette the new KZN disease management area, which includes the following:

• Portions of the Pongola local municipality east of the R66 and south and west of the N2;
• The whole Nongoma local municipality;
• Portions of the Big Five Hlabisa local municipality west of the N2;
• The whole Mtubatuba local municipality;
• The whole Mfolozi local municipality;
• Portions of uMhlathuze local municipality north of the R34; and
• The whole of Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park.

In total, foot-and-mouth was detected and confirmed in 29 locations, including two clusters of dip tanks in communal grazing land.

The local municipalities of Umhlabuyalingana, Jozini, eDumbe, Abaqulusi, Ulundi, Nkandla, Mthonjaneni and uMlalazi are now released from movement restrictions.

The minister commended the farmers and communities that adhered to the movement restrictions, saying this had made it possible to reduce the area under restrictions.

Didiza added there were still signs of circulating foot-andmouth virus within the two clusters and the movement protocol and permit system for movement of cloven-hoofed animals remained in place in the revised disease management areas.

“Movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products into, out of, through, or within the DMA is still only allowed on authority of a permit issued by the veterinary services of the area.

ALSO READ: The growing threats facing agriculture 

The movement protocol can be obtained from KZN Veterinary Services.

“Visible veterinary patrols and roadblocks will remain in place in the reduced DMA to control the movement of livestock and to monitor adherence to the movement protocol.

“Livestock owners are encouraged to submit all applications for movement to the provincial veterinary movement control officers for evaluation and risk assessment.

Applications and queries can be submitted to fmdpermitskzn@gmail.com.

“As soon as it is clear that there is no longer circulating virus in these areas, the remaining movement restrictions can also be reconsidered.” – SAnews.gov.za