The announcement that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) will be combatted with national vaccination is welcomed by Dr Dirk Verwoerd, chief veterinarian at Karan Beef’s feedlots. The single biggest need, he says, is enough vaccines.

By Nico van Burick, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Verwoerd says work has been underway for years on a model to enable national vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease as a possible salvation for the red meat industry.

“It’s unfortunate that the crisis had to grow to this point of total implosion for enough people to realise what it’s really about.”

“We discussed the programmes through the ministerial task teams and other stakeholders weeks ago, but unfortunately the implementation was delayed for a few weeks. We no longer have to design or think up plans. It has all been worked out and that is why we are excited.”

He says the process must begin in the hot spots, such as in KwaZulu-Natal where a total vaccination programme is urgently needed throughout the province.

Multiple vaccinations required

Verwoerd emphasises that everyone must realise this is a programme and not a one-time vaccination of the national herd and then the problem will be solved. Follow-up vaccinations are necessary.

With the current vaccines available, there is a waiting period of three to four months after a single vaccination. However, vaccines that will work over a longer period of time may soon be available.

He says the ability to produce 1.5 million doses locally, for example, cannot be created overnight. It will probably take at least a year.

“We don’t have a vaccine factory and at our research and diagnostic centre the capacity is roughly 200 000 doses, which take about two months to produce. So there will have to be about six cycles per year.”

Toolbox of different vaccines

Vaccine will therefore still have to be imported from Botswana. Other countries such as Turkey and Argentina may also join.

“As with any other disease, you don’t need just one vaccine. You want a whole toolbox of different vaccines, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. That’s how we successfully approach all diseases and that’s how we’re going to approach this disease.”

“We are talking about a year to two years to progress to the point of being free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination where there are no persistent active infections. After that, a lot of data needs to be provided to the World Organisation for Animal Health to be recognized as free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination. This could also take a year or so.”

Also read: FMD | Stud breeders welcome seriousness about foot-and-mouth disease

‘We CAN win the war’

He says everything places an enormous burden on the single laboratory that currently exists in South Africa and they have been advocating for private laboratories for years.

“There are many practical problems, but there is also an answer for each and a way to get around them. You need a team that is not afraid to work and everyone has to do their part. If everything that needs to happen happens quickly and smoothly, we can win the battle over a period of two years.”

Verwoerd emphasises that this is a well-thought-out campaign that takes into account the realities. “There are many cases where no practical control over the movement of animals is possible and it does not help to only apply selective control over movements to feedlots, for example, while there are communal cattle next door where there is no control.

“It’s misleading to say there is control over movements, because if you can’t do it for everyone, you might as well leave it. All these fundamental flaws were built into the previous model. We now play the game the way the war demands, and then we can win.”