By: Lloyd Phillips
Since the Eastern Cape’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed on 30 April, public- and private-sector animal health experts have identified cases on eight farms.
According to a joint statement on Wednesday by Agri Eastern Cape (Agri EC) and the Eastern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (EC RPO), seven of the farms are in the adjoining Kouga and Kou-Kamma local municipalities west of Gqeberha. The eighth is in the Berlin district about 350 km northeast.
The statement said a farm in the Joubertina area was tested for the notifiable, economically important disease of cloven-hoofed animals. However, the results were negative.
“The investigation into the origins and extent of the Eastern Cape’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is ongoing,” the statement said.
It is likely that FMD has been spread in the province by people and vehicles that were contaminated with the virus elsewhere, according to feedback from state animal health authorities.
For this reason, the authorities are urging everyone who works with FMD-susceptible livestock, such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, to take responsibility for implementing and adhering to strict biosecurity measures, including those required by law.
These measures include thoroughly disinfecting vehicles and clothing between different sites, and keeping new animals on a separate farm for 28 days.
Where the state has implemented livestock movement curbs, the necessary official authorisations must be obtained before livestock are moved from, within or into controlled areas.
“The state vet has also stated that they have noticed teat-tip lesions in FMD-positive animals on the [affected] dairy farms,” the joint statement says.
“Dairy farmers are encouraged to keep an eye out for these during milking. These lesions are in the form of a scab or blister at the tip of the teat canal, which could be an early indication of FMD infection.
“If these lesions are seen, farmers must inform the state vet immediately in order for bloods to be drawn, results obtained, and if necessary for FMD vaccinations to commence in order to curb the spread of the disease and prevent losses of livestock.”
Agri EC and the EC RPO say Eastern Cape farmers needing livestock movement permits or up-to-date information on areas under livestock movement controls can contact Agri EC.
“Farmers should apply for movement permits well before they desire to move animals, and not on the day before or on the day of the desired movement,” says the statement.
“In the initial movement control procedure set out by the state vet, it was stated that permit applicants should allow for up to five working days for permits to be issued.”
The Eastern Cape’s Agri Coordination Centre can be contacted at agriops@agriec.co.za/agriops2@agriec.co.za, 041 363 1890, or by WhatsApp/Telegram at 060 997 4503.
