Western Cape farmers are urged to be on high alert and practice all the necessary safety precautions to prevent the outbreak and spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province following a resurgence of the disease in the North West, Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Member of Provincial Parliament, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Andricus van der Westhuizen, has submitted parliamentary questions to the Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, inquiring about the specifics of the measures the province and national government have taken to prevent the spread to the Western Cape.

Van der Westhuizen says FMD has serious economic repercussions because infected animals cannot be exported and a full-blown outbreak could lead to a possible ban on South African meat products.

“This could harm the agriculture sector’s recovery in the wake of the damage caused by the successive Covid-19 hard lockdowns. I would, therefore, like to encourage livestock farmers in the province to follow the safety measures recommended by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, such as quarantining the animals that may be at risk; administering regular tests and avoiding purchasing of animals from the provinces that have infections.”

He asked farmers to report any signs of the disease to the state veterinarians at https://www.elsenburg.com/veterinary-services/animal-health-and-disease-control/.