Eastern Cape Battles Foot and Mouth Disease: Biosecurity Measures in Full Force

South Africa's battle against the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the Eastern Cape has intensified as Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced proactive measures for biosecurity and disease control. With 24 farms already confirmed positive for FMD, strict containment strategies are in full swing. Due to FMD's potential impact on both national and international agricultural trade, biosecurity remains top priority for the department, which is relentlessly collaborating with agrarian stakeholders.

The ongoing crisis has led to the quarantine of impacted farms, with immediate neighbors and connected locations under precautionary confinement. The minister disclosed that epidemiological investigations are underway as authorities endeavor to determine the spread and origin of the FMD outbreak, especially within the high-risk area of Humansdorp and its surroundings.

Addressing the urgent mitigation efforts, Steenhuisen mentioned the receipt of 46 vaccination applications from non-infected farms. Out of these, 30 were approved after considering their proximity to infected areas, ensuring that those at the highest risk receive vaccinations first. The Eastern Cape Provincial Veterinary Services have been directed to optimize personnel resources, hastening the immunization process.

In alignment with the Animal Diseases Act of 1984, all farmers are legally bound to prevent and control disease among their livestock. The recent regulations, effective since October 2022, require a health declaration for the movement of cloven-hoofed livestock and necessitate a quarantine period of 28 days for new arrivals on a farm.

FMD, listed as a controlled animal disease, demands stringent measures as prescribed by the Act, including isolation and restricted movement being enforced by veterinary services. The susceptibility of livestock to the disease, highlighted by symptoms such as salivation and hoof lesions, requires urgent reporting to state veterinarians, with the additional mandate of refraining from moving infected or suspected animals under any circumstances.

Farmers are reminded to maintain solid biosecurity practices to safeguard their herds and comply with national efforts to curtail the spread of FMD. This incident underlines the importance of vigilance and collaborative disease management in the agriculture sector to ensure the health of livestock and the stability of agriculture-based trade.