By Charl van Rooyen, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
- The vaccine shortage must be addressed.
- The state should also allow individuals other than state veterinarians to vaccinate livestock.
- Agricultural police need to be involved to bolster the fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
These are some of the proposals from the two-day indaba held this week outside Pretoria aimed at halting the current epidemic.
Mooketsa Ramasodi, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, will review the proposals before submitting them to the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen.
The conference, commissioned by Steenhuisen, took place at the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Vegetables and Ornamental Plants.
The groups discussed the occurrence of FMD and devised proposals on how to handle the issue.
Ramasodi told African Farming the recommendations from the three discussion groups at the conference will be handed over to him. The report should be on his desk by next Tuesday. He will review it and send it to the Minister by next Friday, “so he can tell the country what was discussed at the two-day conference.”
The conference was held to find solutions for the rise in FMD outbreaks so that South Africa’s status can eventually be FMD-free again.
Hundreds of farmers, staff from the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Council, veterinarians, other scientists, agricultural leaders, and various stakeholders attended the event.
Feedback From Groups
One of the reasons highlighted for the ineffective functioning of the current management system for FMD is a shortage of vaccine.
Questions were raised concerning the state’s current inability to manufacture vaccines locally, opting instead to import them from Botswana.
Other issues raised included a lack of enforcement of control measures, staffing shortages in the veterinary services division and the testing laboratory, a limited understanding of the control strategy among subsistence farmers, non-compliance with regulatory measures, a lack of traceability, a blatant disregard for regulations, and a problematic implementation of quarantine measures.
It was argued that some farmers are reluctant to report suspected cases of FMD to the authorities because their farms might be closed. They believe they require more support from officials to enhance biosecurity.
One group proposed that private institutions should be allowed to help the state in manufacturing the vaccine. They believe the local vaccine is better suited for South Africa’s FMD epidemic. A new-generation vaccine must be obtained.
Regarding an animal tracing system, it was mentioned that a database is essential for comprehensively documenting incidents. For this, technology must be utilised optimally. A response team should be established to act immediately when an FMD case is confirmed.
It was also proposed that the use of FMD vaccine should not be limited to state veterinarians, but that other personnel should also be allowed to vaccinate cattle to decrease this threat.
However, the proposers recognised that this could result in more cases of FMD outbreaks nationwide, and exports might then be suspended due to a lack of control.
No one would then regard South Africa positively or be motivated to trade with the country. This could also lead to a higher risk of other animal diseases.
Zones that are FMD-free are maintained to safeguard surrounding areas and support ongoing trade and market access.
Control measures must then be strictly applied to prevent the illegal movement and sale of livestock from areas infected with the disease. Laws must also be strictly enforced to avoid breaches, and an agricultural police force should be established to support this effort.
Also read: FMD Indaba | Steenhuisen on private vaccination
Minister On FMD
Steenhuisen attended the first day of the conference. He said the livestock industry faces immense pressure, not only because of the biological spread of the disease but also due to policy failures, institutional fatigue, and an outdated response model that no longer matches the scale or complexity of the challenges the country is confronting.
“FMD is not a new threat. We have experienced outbreaks before, but the lessons from the most recent outbreak are concerning and painful. We are working with a response system that is being stretched to its limits.”
He attributed issues to poor communication, delays in vaccine supply, confusion over control measures, and a concerning lack of preparedness across various levels of government.
As the virus spread, confidence in the state’s capacity to respond was further weakened.
The main message is that we cannot keep managing FMD outbreaks with outdated structures and fragmented authority – hoping that a patchwork of short-term measures will provide long-term solutions. We need an innovative approach that is based on science, constitutionally appropriate, and practically feasible,” he said.
