Foot-and-mouth locations grow

THE total number of locations that tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) since an outbreak was confirmed in Limpopo in November is sitting at 15, according to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

“Four further cases of FMD were reported since mid-December, with three cases reported in December and one case reported in the first week of this month. The total number of confirmed positive locations since the start of outbreak has risen to 15,” said the department’s media liaison officer, Reggie Ngcobo, yesterday.

More than 130 points were identified with possible links to specific auctions and known affected properties.

Follow-up investigations and collection of samples had already been performed on 95 of the points, and precautionary quarantines had been lifted on 44 properties that proved to be negative for FMD, he said.

All properties where the disease was confirmed had been placed under quarantine and cloven-hoofed animals were not allowed to move off the quarantined properties. Guidelines and application procedures had been finalised for animals on FMD-quarantined properties to undergo early slaughter at designated abattoirs with specific conditions to prevent the spread of FMD, said Ngcobo.

FMD does not affect human beings, and meat and milk from infected livestock is safe for human consumption

Ngcobo said a prohibition on the gathering of cloven-hoofed animals from two or more properties, for distribution to two or more properties, was applicable to the whole country.

About 50 emerging farmers, auctioneers and other stakeholders were in court yesterday to contest the national ban, saying only one province had been affected with FMD, and it was “irrational” to maintain the ban in the eight other provinces.

The outcome of the application was not available at publication time. |