Pretoria – The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has urged the farming community in Matiane, Limpopo, to work closely with provincial veterinary officials and not move cattle out of the area.
This follows the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) detected by the Provincial Veterinary Services on 8 December 2015.
The outbreak was confirmed by laboratory tests on 10 December 2015 and identified as a SAT 3 strain of the FMD virus. The outbreak occurred in Matiane in the Vhembe District, which is within the FMD protection zone of South Africa, where vaccination for FMD is routinely conducted.
The department said the affected area is very close to Greater Kruger National Park Complex that inhabits FMD infected buffaloes, which are a constant source of infection.
“The current drought situation has increased possible contact between cattle and buffaloes due to limited grazing and water sources,” the department said.
The Limpopo Provincial Veterinary Services has intensified surveillance in the area and is also applying control measures such as quarantine of affected cattle and movement control of cloven hooved animals in the surrounding areas.
Vaccination of the surrounding areas in response to the outbreak will be initiated.
The department emphasised that the outbreak occurred within South Africa’s FMD protection zone, and therefore has no effect on South Africa’s FMD free zone status and should not have any effect on South Africa’s export activities. – SAnews.gov.za
