The country’s leading veterinary and agricultural experts are meeting in Pretoria today and tomorrow (21 and 22 July) to find a solution to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic that has South Africa in an unyielding grip.
By Charl van Rooyen
This past weekend, the second incident of FMD was reported in the Free State, African Farming reported. This follows outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. As a result, the transport of livestock is being severely restricted and is harming South Africa’s red meat exports. This not only has financial consequences for the agricultural sector, but also threatens the country’s economy. The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) has reiterated its call for the province to be declared a disaster area with regard to FMD.
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‘It can’t just be talk’
In addition to the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the University of Pretoria and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) are also directly involved in the indaba. The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and his deputy minister, Nokuzola Capa, are playing a leading role.
The agricultural sector has long been waiting for a coordinated campaign to effectively manage FMD, but so far it has been nothing more than a pipe dream. Fingers have been pointed in various directions, including from agricultural and veterinary circles who openly say the state is not doing its part enough, and that OBP is poorly managed, with the result that there is currently no vaccine being produced in this very expensive institution. The only available vaccine is that which is imported from Botswana.
Dr Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), who is also attending the indaba, is one of the leaders who is keeping his fingers crossed that a long-term solution will be found. “We should no longer just talk about the problem – solutions are needed now. At least now it seems like the state is serious about doing its part,” he told African Farming. Nationwide vaccination against FMD is one of the solutions that should be pursued. “It doesn’t help if we decide on a specific course of action, but it’s not being implemented,” says Maré.
Those responsible must be brought to justice
One of the complaints from the agricultural sector is the lack of action against people who ignore the restrictions on the transport of livestock and thus contribute to the spread of FMD. It is time that an example is made of them, the farmers demand. Maré agrees, but points out that it is not easy. When the origin of the sale of, for example, affected livestock is determined, the problem is often that several owners’ livestock were transported by a single truck.
Another limitation is that South Africa does not have a proper traceability system. The country is working hard in that direction.
Not only livestock farmers are at the receiving end, but also game farmers. African Farming spoke to industry leaders and game farmers during the Wildlife Legacy group of game breeders’ major game auction this past weekend. One of the complaints was that state veterinarians are never available when they are needed. This is attributed to a shortage of veterinarians and the lack of vehicles available.
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FMD’s history in South Africa
Foot-and-mouth disease is an ancient, highly contagious disease that targets animals with cloven hooves. It was first described in 1514. The virus that causes FMD was identified in 1897. Over the centuries, it has caused enormous damage to livestock farming and the economies of many countries around the world.
According to the article “Foot and mouth disease: the experience of South Africa”, which is included in the US National Library of Medicine, FMD is endemic in African buffalo in the Kruger National Park and surrounding game parks. In 1957, the disease broke out in livestock outside these game parks. Thanks to good control measures, it was contained and South Africa achieved FMD-free zone status and was declared free of FMD without vaccination by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE: World organisation for animal health) in 1995. Five years later, this status was lost when the first recorded case of serotype O was recorded in South Africa, with the outbreak of the disease on a pig farm in KwaZulu-Natal.
Also in 2000, FMD was reported in a feedlot in Mpumalanga after a game fence in the Kruger National Park was damaged by floodwaters and buffalo escaped, followed by another outbreak for the same reasons in 2001. These cases were successfully contained, but the authors of the article already pointed out at the time that a new approach was needed to curb FMD.
*The indaba is taking place at the ARC’s facility in Roodeplaat. Charl van Rooyen, senior journalist for African Farming and our sister publication, Landbouweekblad, is attending the indaba. Follow www.africanfarming.com for extensive coverage of the proceedings.
