With seemingly no information being made public about either progress with or the nature of government’s plans for a national vaccination strategy against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), rumours, misinformation, frustration and despair now abound. This situation is being exacerbated by worrying new developments in the spread and impact of this viral disease.

By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Organisations representing South Africa’s livestock producers are calling with increasing urgency for government to explain and implement the decisive actions required to bring the national FMD outbreak under control.

These calls come in the context of the disease’s continued rapid spread since Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen announced an intended plan late last year; reports that stocks of FMD vaccine have been completely depleted; confirmation of an FMD outbreak at a commercial piggery; and what appears to be new, far more severe FMD symptoms.

African Farming has also reported on the emergence of criminal smuggling operations that are allegedly bringing unregistered and potentially dangerous FMD vaccines into South Africa illegally, reportedly from Kenya and Zambia.

Task Team Plans Not Shared With Industry

Dr Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), says Steenhuisen’s Ministerial Task Team on Animal Disease “continues to hold meetings and develop plans that are not being shared with the [livestock] industry”.

From what he understands at this stage, discussions around resuming vaccine imports from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), as well as potentially allowing the importation of other brands and types of vaccines, appear to be ongoing.

“But this is still happening without [samples of our latest] field serotype of foot-and-mouth disease being sent to the Pirbright Institute to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccines.”

The Pirbright Institute in England is the global reference laboratory for FMD serotypes. Countries keep it updated by submitting samples from their most recent outbreaks.

Dr David Gerber, CEO of Dunevax Biotech in South Africa and Namibia, previously told African Farming that the last time South Africa submitted samples to the Pirbright Institute was in 2011, despite numerous new FMD outbreaks since then.

Also read: FMD: ‘No clear communication’ from department on vaccine

Producers Locked Out of Markets

Dr Maré says while information on the vaccines and vaccination plans is not being shared, many of South Africa’s red meat producers are unable to sell their animals because of FMD controls and are, therefore, without an income.

“KwaZulu-Natal still has a disease management area [for FMD] with even stricter rules, while the rest of the province – as well as other provinces – is riddled with this disease,” he says.

“The producers are suffering catastrophic losses. They are discouraged, and there are no answers or concrete solutions on the table.”

Many Of The Frustration Stems From The Fact That Farmers Are Having To Stand By Helplessly As Foot-And-Mouth Disease Ravages Their Herds And Flocks. Increasingly Severe Infections Are Causing Painful Mouth Lesions Leading To Excessive Salivating, As Well As Painful Udders And Teats Accompanied By Mastitis, And Severe Lameness. Photo: Intelact South Africa — Many of the frustration stems from the fact that farmers are having to stand by helplessly as foot-and-mouth disease ravages their herds and flocks. Increasingly severe infections are causing painful mouth lesions leading to excessive salivating, as well as painful udders and teats accompanied by mastitis, and severe lameness. Photo: Intelact South Africa

Free State Agriculture Calls for Disaster Declaration

Free State Agriculture is urging Steenhuisen to use his authority to have FMD declared a national disaster. It is also calling for the repeal of sections of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) “that grant incapacitated state agencies exclusive rights to import, store and distribute vaccines, as well as to conduct the required laboratory tests”.

Urgent actions sought from the Ministerial Task Team on Animal Disease include ensuring that the Pirbright Institute receives samples of the latest South African FMD serotypes so that vaccine companies can produce the correct vaccines; authorising the importation of these vaccines from reputable manufacturers; allowing both state and private veterinarians access to and use of these vaccines, with appropriate traceability protocols in place; and permitting open and transparent free-market pricing for vaccines.

Also read: FMD | Vaccine shortage remains a major frustration

Vaccinated Herds Still Contracting FMD

“There is currently no foot-and-mouth disease vaccine available for state vets to administer in the Free State,” says Dr Jack Armour, commercial manager at Free State Agriculture.

“Furthermore, of great concern are confirmed reports that, in cases where the BVI’s foot-and-mouth vaccine procured by the state was administered, entire dairy herds still contracted foot-and-mouth six weeks later, with dire consequences.”

In An Effort To Highlight The Severity Of The Problem, Intelact South Africa, A Consultancy Serving Beef And Dairy Farmers, Has Resorted To Publicising Photographs Of The Mortalities That Foot-And-Mouth Disease Is Causing Among Many Of Its Clients. Photo: Intelact South Africa — In an effort to highlight the severity of the problem, Intelact South Africa, a consultancy serving beef and dairy farmers, has resorted to publicising photographs of the mortalities that foot-and-mouth disease is causing among many of its clients. Photo: Intelact South Africa

Animals Are Suffering; Farmers Are Desperate

Intelact South Africa, a consultancy comprising beef and dairy specialists, has once again issued a desperate plea via its social media platforms to Steenhuisen, senior officials in the Department of Agriculture and even President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling for urgent and meaningful intervention.

“Across farming communities, animals are suffering and dying. Farmers are being forced to watch healthy herds deteriorate day by day, unable to intervene.

“With every farm that goes under, jobs are lost. Families lose their income. Rural communities are pushed closer to the edge. This crisis is not only about animals; it is also about people, dignity and the ability to keep producing food for the country.”

Despite their strong pleas, demands and frustrations, all sources quoted in this article separately say they are eager to collaborate with government to help urgently achieve progress in the fight against FMD. They also urge those they represent to adopt the same constructive approach.