Laboratory test results for a possible case of foot‑and‑mouth disease in the Mossel Bay district are awaited, while samples from a suspected case at Kuruman have been submitted for testing.

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Livestock farmers in the Garden Route are concerned about the potential outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) near several dairies in the Mossel Bay area.

Agri Western Cape spokesperson Rojeanne van der Merwe says Agri Western Cape has not yet received feedback on the tests. A traffic control point has been established as part of precautionary measures in the Mossel Bay area.

Meanwhile, samples from a possible case at Kuruman in the Northern Cape were delivered to a laboratory for testing on Monday morning.

According to the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) in the Northern Cape, notification of a possible case was received at 13:10 on Saturday, 7 February. A veterinary technician visited the farm concerned at 15:00 that afternoon. The samples arrived in Kimberley on Sunday and were delivered to the laboratory on Monday morning.

Next steps

The South African Police Service has been notified of the case, and the RPO contacted the relevant state veterinarian. The premises have been placed under quarantine, and the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environment, Rural Development and Land Reform will visit to further tighten control over animal movements in the area, as prescribed by regulations.

The RPO and other agricultural organisations met with Lebogang Motlhaping, Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, on Monday to discuss the situation. Motlhaping was recently appointed to the agriculture portfolio in the Northern Cape government.

The RPO says it is in constant contact with the Department of Veterinary Services, as FMD is a state‑controlled disease and the state veterinarian bears responsibility for managing it with the support of all relevant stakeholders. “Members are urgently requested to strictly adhere to all prescribed protocols, avoid unnecessary movement of animals and apply biosecurity on farms without exception.”

The RPO in the Northern Cape indicated in January that a contingency plan is already in place should foot‑and‑mouth disease spread to this province.

Willem Symington, chairperson of Agri Northern Cape, says that all parties are working hard to prevent an outbreak in the province. “The handling of the possible case as well as the maintenance of strict biosecurity in the province is a very high priority.”