A new plan to combat foot-and-mouth disease – South Africa’s next phase in responding to outbreaks – is currently a working document under discussion between government and the red meat industry. Cooperation between the two remains strong.
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
All industry stakeholders involved in developing the country’s new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) plan have been briefed on progress. “I sent an email to everyone about this on Tuesday, 12 August,” says Dewald Olivier, CEO of the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS).
The working document has been submitted to John Steenhuisen, the Minister of Agriculture, and government and the red meat industry are meeting regularly to align the plan discussed at the recent FMD Indaba – hosted by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on 21 and 22 July – with the industry’s own version.
Steenhuisen told African Farming at the Agri Western Cape conference on Thursday, 14 August, that he would be appointing a task team to drive the plan within days.
Watch: FMD task team to be appointed within days – Steenhuisen
Dewald Olivier told African Farming that public-private partnerships were central to the government’s strategy for tackling the FMD crisis. Discussions have already been held with alternative laboratories, vaccine manufacturers and other potential partners.
Also read: FMD indaba | ‘Vaccines, better control and agricultural police must stop FMD’
Hotspot Areas and an Issue with Miners
FMD is currently present in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Free State, North West and Gauteng. The Free State, North West and Gauteng are considered hotspots. “There is particular concern at the moment about outbreaks in North West,” Olivier said.
He added that there was still no clarity regarding a possible case in the Viljoenskroon district in the Free State. According to the latest information, it involves communal cattle that crossed the municipal boundary from Orkney in North West – where active cases have been reported – to Viljoenskroon.
Olivier said state veterinary services are currently engaged in “quite a battle” with miners in North West over cattle they keep. Although these cattle are vaccinated, the miners refuse to brand them after vaccination, as required by law. Government will now have to take steps to compel the miners to comply.
On the backlog at laboratories, Olivier said that that government this week accepted the RMIS’s offer of assistance with technicians. Staff have since been appointed to help clear the backlog of blood tests.
Collaboration Shows Results
Olivier said the red meat industry and government are working closely together to prevent the spread of the disease to other provinces. In one case, a truck transporting cattle from North West to an abattoir in the Western Cape was intercepted, and all the animals were inspected to confirm they were disease-free.
There is an agreement between the Eastern and Western Cape that when either province becomes aware of trucks transporting animals between them, the other is notified so the vehicles can be checked – particularly if the animals have passed through another province before entering the Western or Eastern Cape. Olivier said this cooperation between government and industry stakeholders shows that such collaboration is both possible and effective.
