By Lloyd Phillips
The latest update on the status of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks across South Africa has left some provinces jubilant while others continue to despair.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the World Organisation for Animal Health have confirmed that North West, the Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga are again free of the economically devastating foot-and-mouth disease.
The ministry said the provinces experienced foot-and-mouth outbreaks in 2021 and 2022. State and private sector animal health authorities set about trying to bring the outbreaks under control and quarantined properties where the virus was detected in susceptible livestock.
“These provinces … have now completed comprehensive testing of animals on quarantined farms. The results indicate that the foot-and-mouth virus is no longer present,” said a ministry statement.
“The minister of agriculture extends his gratitude to all stakeholders for adhering to control measures, which helped prevent the further spread of the disease.”
Leon Hiestermann, who chairs the Mpumalanga Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), said livestock farmers are “delighted” at the news and grateful to Dr Ben du Plessis and other state animal health authorities in Mpumalanga for their efforts. However, he said challenges and risks remain and must be kept in mind by all Mpumalanga’s livestock stakeholders.
“We are unbelievably thankful,” said Nico Kilian, who chairs the North West RPO. “It’s also exciting that our neighbouring provinces of Gauteng and the Free State are also officially foot-and-mouth-free, which for sure means a lot for our red meat industry.”
Kilian said the progress being made to bring all foot-and-mouth outbreaks under control would give a “big boost” to red meat exports.
Although the fight against foot-and-mouth in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal continues, the Ministry of Agriculture said there had been no new outbreaks so far in October.
According to the latest monthly report by Dr Mpho Maja, who heads the state’s animal health directorate, at the end of September KZN had 137 open foot-and-mouth outbreaks and the Eastern Cape had 37.
The department of agriculture reminded all owners and buyers of foot-and-mouth susceptible livestock countrywide to strictly adhere to all legally required and self-implemented biosecurity protocols in efforts to prevent new outbreaks.
“[Ahead of the holiday season], the department also urges holidaymakers visiting the foot-and-mouth-affected areas to be mindful of the biosecurity measures in place. Please avoid entering affected farms that remain under quarantine. No live animals nor animal products are permitted to move off these farms.”
