Cattle in both feedlots of Sernick near Edenville have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), while two more cases have been confirmed in the Viljoenskroon area.
By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The number of foot-and-mouth disease cases in the Free State currently stands at 42 after two cases were confirmed this week in Sernick’s two feedlots at Edenville, as well as two more cases in the Viljoenskroon area.
Sernick notified its feedlot’s direct neighbours of the positive cases on Friday morning. About 20 farmers are directly affected by the provisional quarantine within a 10km radius of the feedlots.
According to the Free State’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, vaccinations are being prioritised on all farms where positive cases occur.
Farms within a 10km radius of the affected properties are being temporarily quarantined for further observation to determine whether the disease has spread further.
Also read: New FMD cases confirmed at Gauteng feedlots; possible case in Free State
The department urges farmers not to illegally move animals from areas placed under quarantine, and to report any suspected cases immediately. Industry stakeholders and farmers are urged to work together to limit the spread of the disease.
“The longer the observation has to continue, the longer the preliminary periods of quarantine will have to last, which will exacerbate the economic impact on both the farmers and the Free State.”
According to the department, the 42 confirmed cases come from:
∙ Kroonstad (Moqhaka District Municipality) – 10 cases
∙ Viljoenskroon (Moqhaka District Municipality) – 19 cases
∙ Deneysville (Metsimaholo District Municipality) – 1 case
∙ Cornelia/Frankfort (Mafube District Municipality) – 7 cases
∙ Heilbron (Ngwathe District Municipality) – 2 cases
∙ Edenville (Ngwathe District Municipality) – 2 cases
∙ Odendaalsrus (Matjhabeng District Municipality) – 1 case
Also read:
FMD vaccine: Second shipment delayed
KZN dairy crisis: FMD could trigger national milk shortage, experts warn
