By Michelle van der Spuy
A farm outside Mpumalanga’s disease control area has been placed under quarantine pending an investigation by the Department of Agriculture after cattle on this farm tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease antibodies. According to the department, the cattle show no clinical signs of the disease. A new case of foot-and-mouth disease was last reported in Mpumalanga almost a year ago. There has been only one confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Mpumalanga since 2021.
This case was resolved on 26 June 2023. Twenty cases of FMD have been reported within the province’s control area but were all resolved by 31 May last year. New cases have also emerged in KwaZulu-Natal. An auction that took place in Utrecht in February this year is linked to two positive cases of FMD in Newcastle and Bergville. Records of all animals present at this auction are already being followed up, including clinical examinations and the collection of blood samples. The department is currently trying to determine whether the outbreak in Mpumalanga is linked to the auction.
Biosecurity is a requirement, not an option
Dewald Olivier, Chief Executive Officer of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), notes with concern the latest outbreaks of FMD. “These developments again emphasise the serious risk that FMD poses to the South African red meat industry and the urgent need for greater vigilance and stricter compliance with regulations throughout the red meat value chain.
“The RMIS appreciates the Department of Agriculture’s quick action regarding tracing and implementing quarantine measures. These incidents again emphasise how important it is for every stakeholder to comply with their statutory obligations, as contained in section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984).
“This article places a legal duty on every owner or caretaker of livestock to take all reasonable steps to prevent their animals from becoming infected with diseases, as well as to prevent the spread of diseases to other animals or properties.”
He highlights that FMD is a reportable, controlled disease that often spreads before symptoms can be observed. “Therefore, the mandatory isolation period of 28 days for all newly purchased livestock is non-negotiable, even when a health certificate is available. The health of South Africa’s national herd and the security of the country’s export markets depend on it.” The RMIS, in collaboration with the department and the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (Ruvasa), has launched a structured process enabling producers to sell livestock within disease control areas, provided that specific conditions are met. Inquiries about this process can be directed to fmdpermitskzn@gmail.com.
“It is an essential tool to ensure legal compliance and enable commercial activity. The permit process consists of two components: first, geo-fencing of the area concerned via the RMIS’s traceability platform, and second, a biosecurity risk assessment conducted by an authorised veterinarian. This approach offers a balanced solution considering animal health and the industry’s economic realities.”
He says the RMIS recognises that this process is cumbersome for producers. That’s why efforts are being made to simplify it. “We are developing a shorter, checklist-based version of the procedure to speed up the assessment process without compromising biosecurity.
“The red meat industry has the platforms and partnerships to manage FMD effectively, but it will require the full cooperation of every stakeholder. Anyone who deliberately ignores biosecurity measures endangers the entire industry and must be held accountable under the law. The RMIS remains fully committed to legal trade, animal health, and sustainable industry growth.
“Joint and responsible action is now more necessary than ever. Biosecurity is not an option – it is a prerequisite for the future of South Africa’s red meat industry.”
The department must act
John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, has instructed his department to take more decisive action against the continued spread of FMD, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. He visited this province last week, where 147 active cases of FMD persist despite the department’s efforts to halt the spread of the disease.
The disease has already spread to such an extent in KwaZulu-Natal that the disease control areas demarcated in 2021, when cases of FMD were reported in the province, had to be expanded last month. Progress has been made in containing outbreaks in the Eastern Cape, and no new clinical cases have been reported since June last year. Farms where animals previously tested positive for the disease have been clinically free of it since September last year. According to Steenhuisen, it is highly concerning that new cases of FMD and the expansion of cases are still being reported.
“This, together with the slow progress in strengthening national biosecurity and the purchase of essential vaccines, represents a significant risk that concerns the government. I have instructed the department to identify and remove every possible obstacle to the timely delivery of vaccines.”
Steenhuisen has directed his department to support police and the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s roadblocks in controlling animal movement. He has also requested the identification of alternative sites for selling animals and abattoirs where animals can be slaughtered within the disease control area. The department must investigate the possibility of declaring a state of disaster in KwaZulu-Natal and monitor the application of the permit system for animal movement.
National biosecurity is currently inadequate
Steenhuisen highlighted that national biosecurity must improve immediately and significantly.
“The current control measures are essential but clearly not sufficient to curb the spread of these outbreaks. The legal requirement under the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) for owners to stop the spread of diseases must be supported by effective leadership from the government and enforcement.
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