Foot and Mouth now in FIVE provinces – here are SA’s ‘disease hot-spots’

As if the agricultural industry hasn’t had a tough enough time over the past few years, farmers are now having to battle against the latest outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease – after 56 cases were reported this week.

Foot and Mouth in South Africa: Where are the hot-spots?

A total of FIVE South African provinces have now reported cases, which are highly infectious amongst farm animals and lead to serious illness or death of livestock. Several towns, districts, and municipalities have been named as FMD hot-spots, with North West coming under the most substantial strain.

• New Foot and Mouth Disease cases were found in five provinces: North West, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo and KZN.
• An outbreak of cases was detected near Ventersdorp, North West – all within a 10km radius.
• Outbreaks at five farms in the North West, one in Gauteng, and one in Free State have been linked to an auction in Potchefstroom.
• In Thulamela District, Limpopo, further FMD infected dip tanks were identified on communal grazing land.
• Animals from the FMD protection zone in Limpopo were found at two separate auctions earlier this month.
• In KZN, a further two positive dip tanks were found in the Big 5 Hlabisa and Jozini Municipalities.

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak ‘could have a severe negative impact’ on all of South Africa

The Foot and Mouth crisis has put Agriculture, Land and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza on high alert. She confirmed that her department is doing all it can to suppress the spread, revealing that arrests have been made where people were found to be transporting animals ‘outside of FMD controlled zones’.

“I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas.  The damages caused by continued FMD outbreaks have a severe negative impact on the economy of the country, as well as the individual animal owners.”

“I am pleased that a 49-year old male was arrested at Masisi in the Vhembe District of Limpopo for bringing goats from the FMD controlled zone into the free zone and the law has taken its course. We warn perpetrators who are illegally moving animals that they will be prosecuted.”

Thoko Didiza

What could a FMD outbreak cost SA?

The economic damage this disease can cause is severe: Not only will domestic markets suffer, but our international trade is also at stake. According to FF Plus MP Tammy Breedt, China’s decision to ban certain imports as a result of this Foot and Mouth outbreak risks up to R5 billion a year.

“An immediate consequence was that China placed a ban on the import of all cloven-hoofed animals and their products, like wool, from South Africa. We export about 80% of our wool to China, which represents about R4.8 billion.”

“The latest outbreak raises questions about the government’s monitoring and oversight role as well as control over the provinces’ enforcement of the existing measures and the maintenance of safe zone fences.”

Tammy Breedt