Two more possible cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are being investigated between Frankfort and Cornelia in the Free State.
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
According to the Red Meat Industry Association (RMIS), blood samples were taken on the two farms on Thursday and Friday and sent to laboratories for analysis.
This follows the possibility of a case at Viljoenskroon becoming known earlier this week.
Dewald Olivier, CEO of the RMIS, says according to the latest information about this case, it is communal cattle that crossed from the municipal boundary of Orkney in the North West, where active cases are currently occurring, to the municipal boundary of Viljoenskroon.
A case between Middelburg and Carolina in Mpumalanga was recorded as positive this week.
Meanwhile, the radius of the case at Wakkerstroom has been reduced, as only the original farm that was affected there is still under quarantine. The cattle there have been vaccinated and branded.
The disease is currently occurring in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State, North West and Gauteng. Olivier says North West, Gauteng and the Free State are hotspots and they are particularly concerned about the spread in the North West.
Olivier says State Veterinary Services are currently engaged in a “reasonable battle” with miners in the North West over the cattle they keep. These cattle are vaccinated, but the miners refuse to brand the animals after they have been vaccinated, as required by law.
The government must now take steps to oblige the miners to have the cattle branded.
Testing Backlog
In the meantime, there is a backlog of about a month at laboratories regarding blood tests. This week, the government accepted the RMIS’s offer to help eliminate this backlog. Two weeks ago, the RMIS offered to appoint technicians to assist in particular with the data verification of cases. Technicians have now been appointed to help eliminate the backlog.
Visit the RMIS website where the incidence of cases is tracked. Locations marked in orange are suspected cases and are awaiting blood test results. Locations marked in red are confirmed cases.
