By Lloyd Phillips
As much as recent developments between public and private sector animal health authorities are creating a glimmer of light at the end of the very dark tunnel that is foot and mouth disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal, anxiety and uncertainty remain high following recent new outbreaks.
Animal health authorities, livestock, dairy and game farmers and all other stakeholders in these value chains in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond remain on tenterhooks following the recent confirmation of a new outbreak of this disease at a feedlot in the province’s Bergville district. Additionally, two new suspected localised outbreaks of FMD at other as yet unnamed locations within KZN are currently under investigation.
What these role-players and stakeholders are especially concerned about is that these confirmed and suspected outbreaks are all outside of the significantly expanded FMD Disease Management Area (DMA) recently announced for the province.
“Traceback suggests the infection at Bergville originated from within the extended DMA’s boundaries before the declaration of the extended DMA]was made,” says a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture.
It adds that the locations of the one confirmed and two suspected FMD cases outside the DMA have been placed under quarantine.
“Surveillance and vaccination efforts are being intensified within affected zones both within and outside of the expanded DMA and for a 10-kilometre radius around infected and possibly infected locations.”
Movement protocol provides clarity
State animal health authorities have published an updated DMA Movement Control Protocol for FMD in KZN. This is a valuable guide and tool to ensure all public and private role-players and stakeholders in the livestock value chain do not work at cross-purposes in terms of understanding and carrying out their own responsibilities to collectively help manage FMD in the province.
An important positive aspect of the new Movement Control Protocol is that, subject to understandably strict conditions, it creates opportunities for stakeholders in the livestock, dairy and game value chains to continue earning an income even though their animals and animal products may be within the DMA.
At this stage, these stakeholders must first apply for and achieve the relevant permissions and supporting documentation from state animal health authorities before they can move and market their animals or animal products. However, approval for and issuance of such permissions and documents are first subject to strict inspections and the following of stringent procedures.
A second important positive aspect regarding managing FMD in KZN is that the state is reportedly strongly considering authorising registered private veterinarians to assist with inspecting and approving the movement of livestock, game and their products from, within, into and surrounding KZN’s FMD DMA.
A statement by Dr Mark Chimes, a veterinary advisor and programme manager for animal health and welfare with Milk SA, explains this development emerged during a recent meeting between state veterinary services, private veterinarians and members of South Africa’s value chains that are impacted by FMD in KZN and beyond.
Sharing the workload
Chimes continues: “Due to the workload caused by further outbreaks of FMD in KZN, the state veterinary services resources will be stretched beyond capacity to implement control measures. These measures include surveillance checks on herds, quarantine of affected farms, vaccinating and branding affected herds, issuing of red cross permits for animal movements, post-infection day zero checks, and health inspections on herds prior to sealing trucks that transport quarantined animals to abattoirs for slaughter.”
“Also under consideration is tasking the private veterinarian with auditing the biosecurity measures on FMD-free commercial farms within the DMA. This would determine whether these farms comply with the standards to be considered biosecure enough to continue trading under specific conditions.”
Chimes says farms found in compliance with biosecurity requirements are likely to have less strict movement controls on animals and on animal products compared to non-compliant farms within the KZN’s FMD DMA.
He also states that should the state authorise private veterinarians in these various processes, it is anticipated that the biosecurity audit requirements will differ slightly between beef, dairy, sheep and pig farms.
“However, farms that are FMD positive, or that have their animals vaccinated against FMD, will be placed under quarantine and will be under strict state veterinary control measures for at least 12 months.”
Download the full KZN FMD DMA Movement Control Protocol.
Download the beef and dairy questionnaires.
Download the pigs questionnaire.
