Agriculture confirms FMD in 16 locations

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said additional premises have been identified as positive this month.

However, the department emphasised that the new cases found do not mean that the outbreak is actively spreading.

“It is an indication that the disease control efforts are effective in identifying positive locations, which became infected after the initial spread of the disease from specific auctions in September and October 2019,” the department said.   

According to the department, most of the positive locations were found as a result of the continued trace-forward and trace-back investigations of the FMD outbreak. 

The department, together with the Provincial Veterinary Services, has been conducting awareness on FMD clinical signs and biosecurity measures in Limpopo from early December 2019 and this initiative is continuing in this year. 

“This means that all premises with links to known positive locations and specific auctions are followed up and tested. More than 130 points were identified and precautionary quarantine has been lifted on 57 properties that have been proven negative for FMD after clinical examination and testing.

“All properties where the disease has been confirmed have been placed under quarantine and movement restrictions are in place. Procedures have been finalised for animals on FMD quarantined properties to undergo early slaughter at designated abattoirs, with specific conditions, to prevent the spread of FMD,” the department explained.  

One abattoir has been designated so far and three affected feedlots have been approved to proceed with early slaughter of animals, provided that the animals are not showing active signs of the disease, the department said. 

The department, together with the Provincial Veterinary Services, has been conducting awareness on FMD clinical signs and biosecurity measures in Limpopo from early December 2019 and this initiative is continuing in this year. 

Awareness campaigns were already conducted in 14 villages in the Molemole area and during two farmers’ days.

FMD does not affect people, therefore meat and milk from infected livestock is safe for human consumption. However, the movement of the products must be controlled, as it can still spread the disease to other cloven hoofed livestock.

The department has encouraged all livestock owners to maintain strict biosecurity on their farms. 

“Any clinical signs of FMD should be reported to the nearest State Veterinary Office or the nearest veterinarian for further investigation. Clients are further advised to still limit the movement of cloven hoofed animals onto their farms,” the department said. 

If movements are necessary, the department advised clients to insist on health declarations issued by the sellers’ private veterinarians, attesting to the health status of the animals and the farm of origin.

“The prohibition on the gathering of cloven hoofed animals from two or more properties for distribution to two or more properties remains in place in the whole country. This notice does not prohibit the movement of livestock from farm to farm, or private auctions at individual farms.

“This prohibition will be reassessed by the department once the extent of the outbreak has been satisfactorily determined through the ongoing epidemiological investigation,” the department said.