KwaZulu-Natal: The Ministry of Agriculture has called on livestock farmers nationwide to restrict animal movement due to the ongoing presence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) viruses in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to South African Government News Agency, recent test results confirmed the presence of FMD viruses in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, with cattle at a dip tank in Mtubatuba testing positive for the disease. Clinical signs of FMD were observed in December, leading to sample collection that identified the introduction of a SAT1 FMD virus in the area.
The region has been dealing with a SAT2 FMD event since 2021. Further investigations revealed that the SAT1 virus detected is similar to a strain recently found in the northern part of the Kruger National Park. Additionally, clinical signs of FMD were reported in districts near Vryheid and Newcastle, with laboratory tests confirming the presence of the virus. Virus typing is ongoing to determine whether the outbreaks are caused by a SAT1 or SAT2 strain.
Control measures within the Disease Management Area (DMA) remain unchanged, with affected dip tanks under quarantine and vaccination efforts continuing. The vaccine used covers all three FMD SAT strains, and newly affected areas have been placed under quarantine.
The Ministry emphasized the ongoing threat of FMD and the need for stringent control measures. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen highlighted the importance of adhering to biosecurity protocols and urged farmers to report any suspected cases to veterinary authorities promptly.
Livestock owners were reminded of nationwide control measures implemented since October 2022 to mitigate further spread. These include health declarations for cloven-hoofed livestock movements and a 28-day separation for newly introduced animals from resident herds.
The Ministry advised farmers to limit animal movement and exercise caution when purchasing cloven-hoofed animals from provinces with active FMD outbreaks. Animals from areas under FMD restrictions in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga should not be accepted.
Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act mandates animal owners or managers to take reasonable steps to prevent infection and the spread of diseases from their animals to others.