Bovine disease test results encouraging
MORE than a dozen Eastern Cape farms remain under quarantine after cattle tested positive for brucellosis more than a month ago, but government veterinary officials say continuous testing is showing encouraging results.
Eastern Cape Veterinary Services director Dr Lubabalo Mrwebi said other farms in the affected areas had not tested positive for the bovine disease, and subsequent testing at the infected farms had also come back negative.
“We will continue with periodic testing at the farms that gave us the initial positive results.
“Recent testing shows no further infections among animals, but we will keep these farms under quarantine, in line with our regulations, until we are satisfied they are clear,” Mrwebi said.
Early last month, 10 farms spread across Nelson Mandela Bay and the Sarah Baartman Municipality, as well as two farms in the Chris Hani and one in the Amathole districts, tested positive for brucellosis – a disease caused by brucella bacteria that can be deadly in cattle and can spread to humans through infected meat and unpasteurised milk.
While brucellosis in humans shows flulike symptoms and is treatable, no known cure exists for animals and infected livestock has to be slaughtered under strictly controlled conditions.
Mrwebi said the spread of the disease in the Eastern Cape had been prevented as farms neighbouring those that tested positive had shown negative results.
The affected farms had also not shown further positive tests since the infected animals were slaughtered.
“However, our regulations state that affected farms need to show two negative results six months apart. So while the initial tests are encouraging, the farms will remain under quarantine.
“During this period, no animals are allowed in or out of the farms. It is up to the farmers to ensure their livestock does not interact with animals from other farms.”
Mrwebi said the colder, winter months were a good time to vaccinate animals against a number of animal diseases.
“Most diseases among animals are spread by insects, most of which breed and hatch in warmer, wet conditions. Winter is not known for any specific diseases among animals, but it is still a good time to inoculate livestock.”
National Animal Health Forum Eastern Cape coordinator Sunette Botha-du Toit said they had not received any new information about possible brucellosis outbreaks, and they were still monitoring the situation on behalf of stakeholders.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s public health directorate met yesterday to discuss the presence of brucellosis.
According to their testing, no farms in the metro were infected, and they would monitor the situation closely to prevent any outbreak or spread of the disease.