The backlog of blood samples requiring testing for foot-and-mouth disease at state-accredited laboratories has grown to 15 000. The red meat industry body (RMIS) has been asked to help appoint eight more laboratory technicians.
By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The RMIS had already assisted the Department of Agriculture with six technicians for administrative tasks. However, the backlog has now increased to such an extent that a further eight technicians are required.
Dewald Olivier, chief executive of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), explains that state veterinarians at one location where the virus could potentially occur can take blood samples from up to 70 animals. One way to speed up the process is to test only for the presence of the virus. The “complete” test, which also identifies the strain of the virus, takes much longer, whereas testing solely for the presence of the virus is quicker, allowing many samples to be tested in a short period.
Also read: FMD | Backlog of about a month at laboratories
Regarding the spread of the virus, Olivier states that although many incidents have been reported to the RMIS’s Operational Centre, not all cases are reported to them, and they cannot determine how many cases are currently occurring in the country. He explains that the operations centre was set up to help the industry quickly report on the disease’s spread, but it remains a disease under government control, and cases must be reported to the authorities.
Also read: WATCH | How the FMD outbreak is being handled differently than before
According to a statement from the Free State Department of Agriculture issued on 18 September, another four cases of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed in the province, bringing the total number of cases in the Free State to 30.
The 30 cases occur in six districts:
- 9 in the Kroonstad area
- 11 in the Viljoenskroon area
- 1 in the Deneysville area
- 6 in the areas of Frankfort and Cornelia
- 2 in the Heilbron area
- 1 in the Odendaalsrus area
Also read: Free State reports significant increase in foot-and-mouth disease
The provincial Department urges farmers not to move animals illegally within quarantine zones and to report all possible cases immediately. “Remaining silent will only prolong the outbreaks and delay the process of returning to normal.”
