The Department of Agriculture has urged farmers to limit or eliminate the movement of animals in the country following the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) to Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

The disease was first reported in KZN.

“Two new cases, outside of KZN, have been confirmed. One [is a] farm in Mpumalanga, which was identified as part of trace-forward exercises, from a positive auction in Utrecht, KZN. Although these animals showed no clinical signs of disease, further investigation has confirmed that the virus has spread to adjacent camps on the same farm. There are no indications that other farms have become infected, but veterinary services are continuing with clinical inspection and testing of livestock on farms in the area.

“Another farm was reported in Gauteng. Clinical signs suspicious of FMD were noted in a feedlot that received animals from an auction in Heidelberg. Samples were collected and prioritised for testing. Laboratory results for these samples are positive and confirm that this is the same virus that is circulating in parts of KZN,” the department said.

An epidemiological investigation is underway to ‘trace back and trace forward all other animals that were bought and sold at the same auction’.

As a result of the outbreak, China has now suspended South African imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products, including beef.

Caution to livestock owners and traders

The department has called on livestock owners to note the incubation period for FMD.

“This is a period of two to 14 days, within which animals can appear clinically healthy, before they start showing clinical signs generally associated with FMD.

“This highlights the importance of keeping newly bought animals separated from the resident herd for at least 28 days, even if a health attestation was issued for the animals. The health attestation and 28-day separation have been a legal requirement since October 2022.

“The department urges all livestock farmers in the whole country to limit animal movement as far as possible. We request auctioneers and livestock owners to be vigilant when buying cloven hoofed animals from provinces where there are active FMD outbreaks. No cloven-hoofed animals should be accepted from areas under restriction for FMD in KZN, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga,” the department said.

It remains the legal obligation of livestock owners to ensure the health of their animals.

Adverse health symptoms must be reported to the local State Veterinarian immediately.

“Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act [No 35 of 1984] imposes a legal duty on any owner or manager of animals to take all reasonable steps to prevent their animals from becoming infected with any disease and to prevent the spread of any disease from their animals or land to other animals or other properties.

“Essential biosecurity measures include limiting and/or postponing the introduction of new animals if at all possible and, if absolutely necessary, only introducing animals from known clean farms with a health declaration, preventing nose-to-nose contact of farm animals with animals outside the farm, maintaining secure farm boundaries, restricting access for people and vehicles as much as possible,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

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