Foot-and-mouth flare-up hurting trade
A disease management area has been declared in Limpopo as authorities try to contain an outbreak of foot and mouth disease – which has led to bans of South African meat imports by neighbouring countries.
“The impact this has had on trade in the past week has been devastating to say the least.
“I urge all affected industries to work with my team in minimising the impact‚” agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana said on Monday.
Vaccination in the 20km radius around the village of the Vhembe district where the virus was confirmed will start immediately.
The disease management area adjoins the N1 highway.
The exact boundaries of this area will be published in the Government Gazette.
“No movement of clovenhoofed animals is allowed [in], into or out of this area – complete standstill‚” the department said.
The movement of clovenhoofed animals [wildlife included] and unprocessed products out of the Mopani and Vhembe districts as well as the Molemole municipality of Capricorn district “is discouraged until further notice”.
The department said: “Only products processed using methods validated to inactivate the FMD virus are safe to be moved out of the area.
“Movement permits which were issued for this purpose are henceforth withdrawn.”
The estimated number of cattle in the 20km around the affected village is 15‚000.
“This does not mean that all 15‚000 animals are infected‚ but there is a risk that they may become infected through contact with sick cattle.
“They are being vaccinated to prevent further spread of the disease‚” the department said.
Regaining foot-and-mouthfree status would be a long process, the department said, “which is going to be very demanding on us”.
In a separate statement issued in conjunction with the Red Meat Industry after a meeting in Pretoria‚ the department said: “We want to emphasise that the outbreak is limited to Vhembe district‚ at Sundani village.
“The affected cattle [are] fewer than 50 in an area with about 10‚000 to 15‚000.
“The area remains under quarantine and vaccination is beginning, so that no further infections can occur.
“[The disease] is not transmittable to human beings and there should be no panic whatsoever.” –