The testing confirmed the animals bound for the Al Messilah vessel were exposed to the virus. Images: Stock/Canva/NSPCA
NSPCA sounds alarm over disease outbreak in East London feedlot
NSPCA raises alarm over infectious disease outbreak as thousands of sheep are loaded onto livestock ship from East London to the Middle East.
The testing confirmed the animals bound for the Al Messilah vessel were exposed to the virus. Images: Stock/Canva/NSPCA
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has raised the alarm over an infectious disease outbreak at a feedlot housing 56,000 sheep destined for live export by ship from East London to the Middle East.
Authorities have raised the alarm over an infectious disease outbreak
The NSPCA stated that livestock carrier Al Messilah is loading cattle and goats, in addition to the sheep.
“The NSPCA has, through veterinary laboratory testing and visual examination, confirmed the presence of contagious ecthyma, an infectious dermatitis of sheep and goats which is also contagious to humans in the Al Mawashi feedlot contained in the herd bound for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,”
the organisation said in a statement.
It said after the NSPCA National Inspectors observed lesions on the lips of numerous sheep in the feedlot, which raised suspicions of contagious ecthyma (also known as “Orf”, “Vuilbek” or by its old English name, “Scabby Mouth”), the NSPCA resorted to laboratory testing.
TESTING CONFIRMED THE CONTAGIOUS ECTHYMA ALSO KNOWN AS SCABBY MOUTH
The testing confirmed that the animals destined for the Al Messilah vessel had been exposed to the virus.
“During the course of the disease, which lasts up to four weeks, affected animals can go off feed, lose condition and may develop serious secondary infections at the lesion sites.”
According to the NSPCA, this poses a serious concern for the welfare of the animals on board the Al Messilah vessel.
‘THIS POSES A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS ON BOARD’
Furthermore, this is especially true for those who are not yet showing clinical signs but could suffer on the vessel during their three-week journey.
“These animals, unable to eat, will undoubtedly suffer an awful fate and possibly starve to death while enduring unnecessary pain and suffering from dreadful mouth lesions and possible infections. The Middle East has rejected shipments from Australia, where the disease was found.”
The NSPCA said that should Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reject this shipment, the South African government has confirmed that South Africa will not be able to accept the returning animals.
The NSPCA expresses concern about the risk of leaving these animals stranded at sea
The organisation expresses concern about the risk of leaving these animals stranded at sea
“The NSPCA has actively pulled animals from the feedlot that are displaying clinical signs, although the fate of those still to show clinical signs are a serious cause for concern.”
According to the organisation, this disease also poses a threat to human health, as it is a zoonotic disease that can result in painful sores to humans coming into contact with animals.
“We remain steadfast in our stance that no country has the capacity or capability to ensure or guarantee animal welfare on livestock vessels. If it were not for the diligent screening of the NSPCA, these diseased animals would have been allowed to board the Al Messilah.”
The NSPCA said.
