Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Gauteng: Case confirmed on Randfontein farm
Government confirms foot-and-mouth disease case on a farm in the Randfontein area, with suspicious cases being investigated in Tarlton and Fochville as well.
The MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development, Parks Tau would like to alert the livestock farming sector and processors of products of animal origin of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease in Gauteng which has already spread to the West Rand.
Andile Gumede, Deputy Director: Communications at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said, “The disease has been confirmed on a farm in the Randfontein area, and suspicious cases are being investigated in Tarlton, Fochville, Walmansthal and Onderstepoort”.
All these cases were imported into Gauteng from neighbouring provinces.
“As the Gauteng Provincial Government, we would like to reassure the public that all measures are being taken by the Provincial Veterinary Services to limit the spread of this disease. The control of such infectious viral diseases is a collective responsibility of all livestock industry stakeholders.
We would like to appeal to our farmers to exercise extra vigilance for signs of the disease in their livestock. All suspicious cases should be reported to veterinary services immediately for investigation purposes.
“Farmers are also advised to take extra precautions and not buy livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs and goats) from sellers whose animal health status is unknown, as well as from known FMD control areas.”
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed domestic animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, and wild animals such as buffalo and antelopes.
• The clinical symptoms are ulcers of the mouth, nose, teats, and feet. Adult animals usually recover from the infection, but young calves, piglets and lambs commonly die.
• FMD is a trade-sensitive disease because the FMD status of a country largely determines the eligibility for access to the lucrative international beef and pork markets.
• The meat in Gauteng is safe to eat as FMD is strictly an animal disease which does not spread to people.
Livestock auctioneers are urged to be even more cautions when accepting animals into their premises for sale, as they could inadvertently become a vehicle for the spread of the disease.
We also encourage farmers to limit movement of animals (including panic-selling), people, vehicles and farming equipment between farms as these play a role in the spread of FMD.
Any suspicious FMD clinical signs in your herds (salivation, blisters in the mouth, limping or hoof lesions), should be reported to the nearest state veterinary office):
1. Randfontein office: Dr Jaison Mpofu (072 900 0869)
2. Germiston office: Dr Duma Mpofu (071 543 3028)
3. Pretoria office: Dr Nadia Jordaan (072 904 2478)
