Foot-and-mouth disease

SA is battling an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in five provinces amid an increase in the illegal movement of livestock, agriculture, ...

Foot-and-mouth is a severe, contagious viral disease that affects livestock, causing production losses. The disease is especially endemic in several parts of Asia and in most of Africa and the Middle East. The disease does not affect humans, so consumers have no reason for concern, according to the government... SA is battling an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in five provinces amid an increase in the illegal movement of livestock, agriculture, land reform & rural development minister Thoko Didiza said on Monday.

Foot and mouth disease on farms and in communal areas in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State, Gauteng and North West is spreading like wildfire.

“The FMD vaccine can only be used in pre-authorised areas after the risks have been weighed. The farms have, however, been placed under quarantine. Further analysis confirmed that the same SAT3 virus is responsible for the outbreaks in the Free State, North West and Gauteng,” said Didiza. In KwaZulu-Natal, a further two FMD-positive dip tanks were found in the Big 5 Hlabisa Municipality and Jozini Municipality. The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development said there were 56 ‘outbreak cases’ in these provinces. The other farm where samples were conducted tested negative.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza made the remarks while giving an update about the FMD outbreak in the country. She ...

Despite this fact, the permanent movement restrictions remain in place in the FMD protection zones in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and it is illegal to move cloven-hoofed animals and their products out of the FMD protection zone without permission. I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas. "It is important that everyone commits and respects all imposed control measures and collectively find a sustainable solution.

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said the country has been currently battling at least 56 foot-and-mouth outbreaks.

Didiza said the country has been currently battling at least 56 foot-and-mouth outbreaks. Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza said the country has been currently battling at least 56 foot-and-mouth outbreaks. Didiza said the department became aware of companies advertising the sale of food-and-mouth vaccines.

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza has appealed for co-operation from livestock owners after the department said the current outbreaks were due to the ...

“I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas. The minister appealed to members of the public to contact the state veterinary services or their private vets immediately if there was any suspicion of FMD or linkage to an FMD affected property. Government attributed the current outbreaks to the illegal movement of animals out of the FMD controlled zones in Limpopo.

Western Cape farmers have been cautioned about the risk of buying livestock of unknown origin following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in ...

Infected animals can take up to two weeks before showing signs of foot-and-mouth disease, so animals that look healthy are not necessarily safe. Only buy from owners with known healthy animals, preferably who can provide a health attestation for their animals from a veterinarian. Animals get this disease when eating or breathing in the virus from these body fluids.

Dozens of new Foot and Mouth Disease cases have been reported in South Africa - with several major regions now badly affected.

“I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas. The Foot and Mouth crisis has put Agriculture, Land and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza on high alert. Several towns, districts, and municipalities have been named as FMD hot-spots, with North West coming under the most substantial strain.

The minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, Thoko Didiza, has confirmed that the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks currently ...

She added that her department was working hard to resolve the situation as a matter of urgency. One case has been the result of a lobola ritual. “I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD-affected areas. These auctions were, however, stopped and the premises were placed under quarantine. “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. In a statement released by her department minutes ago, Didiza said that a livestock handler was arrested for illegally moving goats.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says maximum cooperation from all stakeholders in the sector is necessary to control ...

"The FMD vaccine can only be used in pre-authorised areas after the risks have been weighed. Culling, like all control measures, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the practicality, costs, advantages and disadvantages of each scenario," Didiza said. "Another case, where animals were illegally moved from an FMD controlled area to auctions in two provinces, is being investigated. However, the Minister reiterated that the use of the FMD vaccine is strictly controlled by state veterinary services and the vaccine is not available for sale to the public. FMD vaccination campaigns in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal are still ongoing in the areas where there is active virus circulation and where the animals are not fenced in to effectively prevent co-mingling. She called on all South African citizens to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas, noting that the outbreaks currently troubling South Africa are caused by illegal movements of animals out of the FMD controlled zones in Limpopo.