What consumers should know about the flare up of foot-and-mouth disease

THE RECENT outbreak of foot-andmouth disease (FMD) among a small population of animals in a limited area of northern Limpopo resulted in the temporary suspension of South Africa’s FMD-free status.

This will have a negative effect on export markets. FMD can be considered a “trade disease”, with countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Swaziland announcing the suspension of beef imports from South Africa in order to minimise the risk of contracting the disease in their own countries.

Therefore, FMD usually has a significant economic impact. This presents a challenge for the meat industry, since it takes many years to build up an export market.

Livestock are being treated and vaccinated, and veterinary-service experts are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of the disease.

FMD is a contagious viral disease that affects pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hooved animals. Symptoms include fever and blisters inside the mouth and on the hooves. The blisters make it difficult for animals to eat and it also cause lameness. Animals usually recover. The disease does not affect humans.

Cloven-hooved animals are not allowed to be moved in or out of affected areas and are not be slaughtered for human consumption.

All animals are inspected at abattoirs before slaughter. The virus that causes FMD is sensitive to stomach acids and would anyway not spread to humans via the consumption of infected meat.

Since the disease does not affect humans, it is safe to consume meat and milk from cloven-hooved animals. Consumers can enjoy red meat and should make use of the opportunity to buy and freeze meat if there is a slight oversupply due to meat that is offered at reduced prices.

PROFESSOR ARNO HUGO

Food Science Division: Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State